Ex  IGtbrtB 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  book 

Because  it  has  been  said 
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Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


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in  2014 


https://archive.org/details/reportofbrooklynOObroo 


INDEX  TO  MAP.  -X.  Lincoln  Statue.  2.  Fountain.   :).  Flnza  Shelter. 


Thatched  Shelter.    5.  Endale  Arch.    0.  Hint  Drive  Shelter  and  lioad  Steps.    7.  Play  (inland  Arbor 
17.  Lullwood  Bridge.    Is.  Cleft  lti  Ige  Span.    19.  Breeze  Hill  Concouree.    20.  Cow.  Obeoora.    21.  Concert  Grove  Shelter  and  Pavilion 
30.  Parade  Ground  Lodge.    31.  Site  for  Parade  Ground  Stables.    32.  Lookout  Hill  Bridge.    33.  CbBOrvatory  and  Shelters. 

43.  Binnonwater.   41.  Lullwater.   45.  Dairy  Cottage 


8.  Play  Ground  Pool.    9.  Play  Ground  Concourse  for  Children.    10.  Oarrouasel.     11.  Haiti.' 


12.  Culvert  Arch.     13.  Deer  Baddo 


22.  Conceit  Grove.     23.  Boat  Landing 
Well.    35.  Terrace  and  llclcrtory.  86.'. 

Dairy  Stable.    17.  Payno  Stntuo.    Ik.  Meadow  Pott  Aroh. 


24.  Site  lor  Music  Pavilion.    25.  Irving  Statue.    2t;.  Carriage  ConOc. 


27.  Ford  Budge  98. 


k.  14.  WUlink  Entranc 
Promenade  Diirc  Shalte 


15.  Emit  Wood  Arch.  lti.  Binnen  Bridge 
SB.  Franklin  Avenue  Shelter. 


Terrace  Bridge.    37.  Lookout  hill  Concourse.    38.  1'ullkill  Bridge.     311.  Pools.     10.  Esdule  Bridge.     41.  Ambergill.     42.  Xcthe: 


Urinals.    U  U.  Boat  Landing. 


Bustio  shelters 


REPORT 


OF  THE 


FROM 


JANUARY,  1874,  TO  DECEMBER  31.  1879 


BROOKLYN : 

lP:ri:r:Lt©cl    for    tlae  Com 
1880. 


COM  MISSION  ERS. 


JAMES  S.  T.  STRANAHAN, 
JOHN  H.  PRENTICE,  ABRAHAM  B.  BAYLISS, 

STEPHEN  HAYNES,  WILLIAM  MARSHALL, 

DARWIN  R.  JAMES,  ISAAC  S.  CATLLN, 

SAMUEL  S.  POWELL, 

THE  MAYOR,  Ex-offivio. 


OFFICERS. 

l' resident, 

JAMES  S.  T.  STRANAHAN. 

Secretary, 
FRANCIS  G.  QUEVEDO. 


Chief  Engineer  and  Superintendent, 
JOHN  Y.  CULYER. 


ANNUAL  REPORT 


OF  THE 


Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners. 


Mayor's  <  >ffice,  City  Hall.  ) 
Brooklyn,  January  31,  lsh'M 

To  the  Honorable  the  Common  Council  : 

Gentlemen : 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners  is 
herewith  transmitted  for  your  consideration. 

Very  respectfully  youre, 

JAMES  HOWELL, 

Mayor. 

Office  <>f  the  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners,  ^ 
»  City  Hall,  Brooklyn,  > 

January  30,  1880.  S 

Hon.  James  Howell,  Mayor  : 
Dear  Sir: 

I  herewith  transmit  to  you  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Brooklyn 
Park  Commissioners,  which  by  law  and  the  ordinances  of  the  qity 
we  are  required  to  present  at  this  time. 

Respeetfnlly, 

j.  s.'t.  stranahan, 

President. 

1 


4 


January  1, 1880. 
To  f/ie  Honorable  fhr  Common  Council  of  t/ie  City  of  Brooklyn  : 
Gentlemen  : 

The  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners  beg  leave  to  lay  before  you 
their  report  for  the  year  terminating  December  31,  ls7!>. 

There  will  he  found  appended  a  statement,  in  detail,  showing 
the  amount  of  moneys  received  and  the  sources  whence  they  were 
derived,  together  with  a  full  account  of  the  expenditures  of  the 
year. 

In  view  of  the  very  limited  appropriations  which  have  been  set 
apart  by  Your  Honorable  Body  tor  the  use  of  the  Park  Commis- 
sioners, they  are  Tiot  able  to  report  any  definite  progress  during 
the  year  in  the  important  works  committed  to  their  charge. 

The  comparatively  small  force  of  employes  which  it  lias  been 
possible  for  them  to  retain  in  their  service,  has  been  engaged 
throughout  the  year  upon  such  work  as  was  demanded  by  the 
seasons  and  by  the  public  use  of  the  Park.  It  consisted  chiefly 
in  maintaining  through  the  winter  months,  the  lake  in  proper  con- 
dition for  skating,  curling,  ice-boat  sailing  and  other  ice  sports, 
for  which  it  was  in  general  use  by  our  citizens  ;  in  repairing  and 
cleaning  the  roads,  walks,  &c. :  in  the  care  of  the  grass,  shrub- 
bery and  public  buildings,  and  in  whatever  else  contributed  to 
the  comfort  and  convenience  of  the  public,  as  far  as  it  was  pos- 
sible for  them  to  do. 

In  consequence  of  the  almost  entire  suspension  of  the  work  of 
construction  upon  the  Park  since  1873,  and  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  no  material  change  had,  during  any  one  year,  notably  marked 
the  administration  of  their  duties,  the  Commissioners,  since  1873, 
have  remitted  the  publication  of  extended  reports  of  their  opera- 
tions. They  therefore  take  this  opportunity  to  present  the  fol- 
lowing summary  of  the  Work  of  construction  provided  for  by 
special  appropriation  since  1873,  and  also  to  present  at  some 
length  the  general  subject,  of  maintenance. 

The  successful  completion  of  certain  suburban  improvements 
by  the  Commissioners,  of  which  the  Ocean  Parkway,  and  the  Con- 
course at  Coney  Island,  are  very  prominent,  and  so  closely 
identities  them  with  the  works  within  the  city  as  to  unite  them 
in  a  common  consideration  in  this  report. 

That  these  results  have  been  successfully  achieved  at  this  time, 
and  at  such  cost  as,  with  wise  management  on  ihe  part  of  the 
municipal  authorities,  will  render  them  but  slight  burdens  to  our 


5 


taxpayers,  is  a  source  of  general  congratulation.  The  importance 
and  value  of  works  of  the  character  of  our  parks,  &c,  and  the 
properly  constructed,  convenient  and  attractive  approaches  to  a 
delightfully  suburban  neighborhood  cannot  be  reasonably  over- 
estimated. The  general  appropriation  for  construction  purposes 
which  had  been  provided  in  accordance  with  an  act  of  Legislature 
ceased  in  the  year  1S73,  since  which  time  only  such  new  work 
lias  been  dune  as  was  necessary  to  complete  unfinished  portions 
in  hand.  For  this  there  remained  sufficient  money  to  meet  the 
outlay,  and  the  expense  of  such  other  undertakings  as  have  been 
from  time  to  time  duly  authorized  by  the  proper  authorities  has 
been  met  with  money  provided  by  Your  Honorable  Body.  With- 
in these  two  classifications  the  following  works  are  enumerated 
in  the  order  of  their  completion  : 

PLAZA  FOUNTAIN. 

This  work,  including  the  finishing  of  the  artificial  stone  and 
metal  work  of  the  dome,  and  the  fountain  railing,  with  their  com- 
plement,^ parts,  embodied  novelties  in  design  and  construction 
which  have  been  finished  in  a  satisfactory  manner. 

The  central  location  of  the  large  fountain  makes  it  the  most 
conspicuous  ornament  of  the  Plaza.  It  was  intended  to  relieve 
what  would  otherwise  have  proved  a  monotonous  and  too  utilitarian 
feature  of  the  broad  approach  to  what  must  always  be  the  lead- 
ing entrance  to  the  Park. 

The  railing  itself  not  only  serves  as  an  appropriate  ornament 
and  finish  to  the  circular  stone  work  which  surrounds  the  princi- 
pal basin,  but  comprises,  as  a  part  of  its  structure,  a  series  of 
globular  glass  lanterns  which  are  supplied  with  gas  by  pipes  car- 
ried through  the  upper  bar  of  the  railing.  These  lanterns  afford 
opportunities  for  a  spectacular  display,  it  being  anticipated,  as 
has  since  proved  the  fact,  that  the  Plaza  in  pleasant  weather,  and 
especially  during  the  summer  months,  would  attract  the  people  of 
the  neighborhood  to  its  vicinity  as  a  convenient  and  pleasant 
resort. 

The  first  public  illumination  of  the  fountain  and  surrounding 
space  of  the  Plaza  took  place  on  the  evening  of  July  4,  1874, 
but  similar  displays  have  been  of  infrequent  occurrence  since, 
owing  to  the  failure  of  the  authorities  to  make  provision  for  the 
necessary  supply  of  gas.  The  existing  provisions  for  the  water 
display  of  the  fountain  have  been  and  continue  to  be  temporary 
in  character  in  consequence  of  the  limited  and  intermitted  supply 


V> 

of  water  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Commissioners  by  the 
Water  Board.  The  Commissioners  entertain  the  opinion  that  a 
reasonable  occasional  use,  especially  <>n  holidays,  of  water  for 
such  purpose  as  is  afforded  by  the  Plaza  Fountain,  would  be  an 
entirely  legitimate  one.  Throughout  Europe,  in  almost  every 
city  and  large  town  of  prominence,  where  the  water  supply  is  ob- 
tained with  more  difficulty  and  expense  than  it  is  ever  likely  to 
be  with  us,  the  local  authorities  recognize  the  claims  of  all  public 
fountains  and  provide  for  ornamental  displays  of  water.  The 
mechanical  resources  of  the  Plaza  Fountain  itself  arc  such  as 
to  supply  a  delivery  of  water  sufficient  to  properly  secure  a  dis- 
play equal  to,  if  not  surpassing,  any  public  fountain  now  con- 
structed. 

PEDESTRIAN  CONCOURSE. 

The  unfinished  details  of  work  pertaining  to  the  stone  work, 
water  walls,  coping,  railing,  small  fountains  and  flower  basins 
were  completed  in  1874.  This  work  included  the  unfinished 
work  provided  for  by  contracts  of  the  previous  year. 

CONCERT  GROVE  OPEN  SHELTER. 

The  large  open  shelter  facing  the  restaurant  was  completed  in 
1874.  This  structure  is  in  the  form  of  an  irregular  octagon  in 
plan,  80  feet  long  and  40  feet  wide,  and  is  constructed  of  iron 
and  wood,  with  stone  tile  flooring,  enclosed  with  iron  railing,  in 
which  suitable  openings  have  been  left  for  access  to  the  tables 
and  chairs  within.  It  affords  pleasant  and  convenient  facilities 
for  taking  outdoor  refreshments  during  the  fine  weather  of  the 
year.  The  original  design  of  the  Pedestrian  Concourse  contem- 
plated provisions  for  the  comfortable  assembling  of  carriages  and 
pedestrians  at  a  central  and  accessible  portion  of  the  Park ;  and  the 
combinations  of  rich  stone  work  and  other  architectural  features, 
with  the  elements  of  landscape  art,  in  which  the  cultivation  of 
flowers  form  a  prominent  feature,  are  calculated  to  make 
this  a  very  attractive  neighborhood.  These  arrangements  have 
been  completed  and  seem  to  have  met  in  an  ample  manner  the 
purposes  for  which  they  were  designed.  As  a  natural  and  proper 
secpience  to  this  work,  provisions  have  been  made  for  the  accom- 
modation of  musicians,  it  being  contemplated  to  provide,  at  some 
future  time,  in  this  part  of  the  Park,  open  air  concerts  in  a  loca- 
tion where  they  may  be  most  conveniently  enjoyed  by  all  classes 
of  visitors.    Here  it  is  designed  to  overcome  many  of  the  difficul- 


7 

tics  universally  existing  in  outdoor  concerts,  and  to  secure 
to  people  in  carriages  and  pedestrians  alike  all  the  advantages 
desired.  The  circuit  drive  of  the  Park  follows  the  line  of  the 
contiguous  lake,  bordering  the  open  area  or  concourse  of  nearly  five 
acres,  all  parts  of  which  are  open  to  drivers  and  riders,  while  a 
smaller  carriage  concourse  is  situated  on  the  hill  north  and  west 
of  the  grove. 

North  of  the  principal  carriage  concourse,  and  forming  a 
southern  portion  of  the  grove,  a  space  is  especially  designed  for  a 
promenade  on  foot.  This  is  planted  with  plane  trees  (platanus 
orientalis),  now  in  a  very  thrifty  condition  of  growth,  and  these, 
together  with  the  aid  of  a  series  of  awnings  picturesquely  arranged, 
it  is  believed,  will  afford  a  sufficient  protection  from  the  heat  and 
sun  during  the  warmer  months  of  summer.  Additional  facilities 
in  this  respect  will  be  provided,  and  natural  aid  will  result  from 
the  growth  of  trees  on  the  bordering  high  ground. 

At  present  the  ordinary  attractions  of  the  Pedestrian  Con- 
course, together  with  the  success  of  the  floral  displays,  which 
have  been  accomplished  at  comparatively  small  cost,  already 
make  this  one  of  the  most  attractive  neighborhoods  of  the  Park. 
For  the  present,  the  concerts  are  provided  at  a  point  familiar  to 
all,  easy  of  access,  and  with  such  acceptance  to  the  public  that 
the  Commissioners,  in  view  of  their  limited  financial  resources, 
feel  justified  in  continuing  its  temporary  use. 

CARROUSEL. 

A  Carrousel  has  been  constructed  for  the  use  of  children,  and 
appropriately  located  on  the  playground  near  the  main  entrance 
of  the  Park.  This  building  was  completed  in  the  summer  of 
1874,  and  opened  for  use  in  the  early  part  of  July  ;  the  building- 
is  octagonal  in  form,  forty-five  feet  in  diameter,  and  contains 
twenty  four  mechanical  horses  and  four  coaches.  The  machinery, 
which  is  worked  by  horse  power,  communicates  the  motion  to 
a  central  shaft  twenty-seven  feet  in  height,  properly  supported 
from  the  foundation  in  the  cellar,  and  extending  to  the  roof  in 
the.  building.  To  this  shaft  1-1-  radial  arms  are  securely  attached, 
from  which  are  suspended  the  horses  and  carriages. 

This  structure  is  designed  for  and  used  principally  by  the 
children  of  the  community,  to  whom  it  offers  many  attrac- 
tions. The  Commissioners  have  always  approved  the  introduc- 
tion of  features  of  this  character  which  have  secured  popular  ap- 
proval elsewhere,  and  against  which  no  possible  objection  can  be 


8 


reasonably  urged,  [ndeed  the  extent  and  variety  of  this  class  of 
amusements  to  which  the  public  grounds  in  European  countries 
are  appropriated  would  surprise  many  who  have  not  familiarized 
themselves  with  the  policy  universally  adopted  abroad  of  re- 
sponding to  the  demand  for  facilities  for  outdoor  recreation,  in 
which  are  included  every  device  and  contrivance  that  skill  and  in- 
genuity for  healthful  and  innocent  pleasure  can  contrive. 

The  popularity  of  this  device,  justifies  the  recommendation 
that  a  similar  construction  he  provided  for  at  an  early  date  in  the 
West  Woods,  now  the  favorite  resort  for  picnics  for  our  citizens, 
and  one  of  the  most  continuously  frequented  portions  of  the  Park. 

CAMERA  OBSCURA. 

At  a  later  date  permission  was  given  to  erect  a  small  building 
suitable  for  the  exhibition,  in  a  somewhat  novel  form,  in  this 
country,  at  least,  of  the  camera  obscura.  The  building  is  con- 
structed with  the  purpose  of  securing  a  dark  chamber  convenient 
of  access  for  visitors,  and  is  located  in  this  ease,  to  command  a 
view  within  a  limited  range,  of  prominent  and  attractive  portions 
of  the  landscape  and  the  lake.  A  powerful  lens  is  placed  in  a 
box  on  the  apex  of  the  building,  so  arranged  as  to  revolve  through 
a  circle.  By  this  means  all  objects  coming  within  the  field  of  the 
lens  are  thrown  on  a  polished  mirror  set  on  an  angle  of  45',  and 
reflects  upon  a  circular  table  of  some  five  feet  in  diameter,  pro- 
vided with  a  clean  white  surface.  Thus  a  picture  is  presented 
which  is  not  only  a  photographic  reproduction  ol  the  particular 
view  within  the  Held  of  the  lens  at  the  time,  but  producing  in 
wonderful  beauty  the  colors  and  characteristics  of  the  foliage,  the 
flowers  and  the  clouds  and  the  movements  of  passing  objects  such 
as  boats  on  the  lake,  carriages  on  the  Drive,  Arc  The  simplicity 
of  the  arrangement,  the  novelty  of  the  exhibition  and  the  beauty 
of  the  pictures  which  pass  in  rapid  panoramic  succession  afford 
instruction  and  entertainment  and  attract  a  great  many  visitors. 

Of  the  remaining  construction  work  in  Prospect  Park,  for  which 
appropriations  have  been  especially  provided,  is  the  greenhouse, 
built  in  1875,  at  a  cost  of  $8,307.41.  The  utility  of  this  structure 
has  been  demonstrated  by  the  face  that  we  have  already  been  en- 
abled to  furnish,  by  propagation  of  new  plants  and  the  care  of 
old  ones,  a  supply  aggregating  annually  in  ample  varieties  from 
thirty  to  fifty  thousand  plants,  sufficient  for  all  the  parks  in  the 
city  for  the  past  five  seasons,  at  a  cost  of  less  than  one-third  of 
the  market  price  of  the  plants  themselves.    Indeed  had  the 


9 


Commissioners  in  these  later  years  been  compelled  to  purchase 
ils  supply  of  plants,  they  would  not  have  been  able  to  furnish,  in 
such  quantities,  foliage  plants  and  flowers  which,  in  their  variety 
and  novelty  of  arrangement,  have  formed  such  conspicuous  attrac- 
tions in  the  Park. 

WILLINK  ENTRANCE. 

In  1876  the  Willink  entrance  approach  was  substantially  com- 
pleted at  a  very  reasonable  cost  by  special  appropriation,  for  the 
convenience  of  a  very  large  number  of  our  Eastern  District 
citizens,  who  found  it  a  desirable  means  of  approach  to  the  Park. 

The  Commissioners,  in  view  of  the  fact,  long  known  to  them, 
that  nearly  as  many  pedestrians  enter  at  this  point  during  the 
summer  season  as  at  the  main  entrance,  had  for  some  time  felt  it 
to  be  their  duty  to  make  some  adequate  provision  to  meet  this 
public  requirement.  The  completion  of  this  work  affords  much 
satisfaction  to  thousands  of  our  citizens  and  gave  prominence  to 
the  fact  of  the  very  general  use  of  the  Park  made  by  the  resi- 
dents of  the  eastern  part  of  the  city.    Its  cost  was  $5,922.55. 

SKATING  SHELTER. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  fall  (November)  it  was  found  necessary 
to  make  additional  provision  for  skating  and  other  ice  sports, 
amusements  which  had  become  very  popular  pastimes  on  the 
Park  lakes  during  the  winter  season. 

The  existing  and  very  temporary  accommodation  was  found  to 
be  no  longer  equal  to  meet  the  public  necessities  in  this  particular. 
The  material  which  had  been  used  in  the  building  for  several 
successive  seasons  needed  to  lie  replaced,  and  extensive  repairs  to 
the  boat  platform  and  foundations  were  also  found  to  be 
necessary. 

The  Commissioners  therefore  decided  to  make  the  needed  re- 
pairs, and  to  erect  a  new  building,  which  should  furnish  the  re- 
quired accommodation,  and  the  work  was  entered  upon  and 
completed  at  a  cost  of  $10,975.47,  in  time  for  continued  use 
throughout  the  prolonged  skating  season  of  the  winter  of  1876. 
The  details  of  construction  of  this  building  were  so  arranged  in 
its  main  features  as  to  meet  all  the  requirements  of  a  permanent 
structure,  affording  ample  accommodation  to  the  public  as  a 
skating  house  in  winter.  At  the  same  time,  it  was  planned  with 
a  view  to  its  use  as  a  shelter  in  summer  by  the  large  number  of 
visitors  who  assemble  at  this  busy  part  of  the  lake,  and  who 


10 


avail  themselves  of  the  grateful  shade  and  convenient  seats,  which 
form  its  principal  attractions.  This  change  is  brought  about  by 
removing  in  summer,  the  partitions  and  counters  and  enclosing 
panels,  which  made  it  an  enclosed  building  for  winter  use,  and 
which,  when  removed,  transform  it  into  an  open  shelter  in  sum- 
mer. The  women's  room  alone  forms  a  permanent  apartment 
and  is  kept  open  and  used  throughout  the  year. 

PICNIC  WOOD  SHELTER 

The  accessibility  of  the  West  Woods,  by  which  name  is  desig- 
nated the  wooded  area  that  skirts  the  Long  .Meadow  on  the  Ninth 
avenue  side  of  the  Park,  and  its  peculiar  fitness  for  the  purpose 
h  i  -  made  it  a  very  acceptable  place  of  resort  in  summer.  Jn  con- 
nection with  this  there  hat*  naturally  resulted  a  demand  for  a 
building  which  should  combine  certain  conveniences,  such  as 
shelter  in  case  of  sudden  storms,  proper  accommodation  for 
attendance  upon  sick  or  injured  persons,  together  with  needed 
waiting  and  baggage  rooms,  closets,  tfec.  The  Commissioners- 
accordingly  prepared  plans  and  subsequently  constructed  a  suita- 
ble building  daring  the  winter  and  spring  of  1876-7,  from  moneys 
provided  for  the  purpose  by  the  authorities.  It  is  located  at  a 
central  point  in  the  woods  and  is  available  for  use  not  only  for 
tli"  great  number  of  people  who  congregate  in  this  portion  of  the 
Park,  but  for  those  visitors  who  come  in  carriages  as  well,  the 
West  Drive  passing  within  a  few  hundred  feet  of  the  building. 
This  structure  is  of  wood,  upon  a  brick  foundation  and  covers 
an  area  feet  in  length  by  60^  in  width.  The  building  proper 
is  54^  feet  by  28  feet,  and  is  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  broad 
piazzas  18^  feet  wide,  with  overhanging  roof.  These,  in  addition 
to  the  accommodation  afforded  by  the  interior  rooms  of  the  build- 
ing for  shelter  in  bad  weather,  supply  ample  protection  in  cases 
of  sudden  storms  or  other  emergencies.  The  picnic  shelter  and 
its  appurtenances  cost  $9,916.54.  The  superficial  area  of  these 
piazzas  is  equal  to  4,500  square  feet.  The  building  contains  a 
public  room  in  which  the  purveyor  is  permitted  to  sell  the  lighter 
refreshments,  under  proper  restrictions,  and,  at  either  end, 
accommodations  in  the  way  of  closets,  washroom,  &c,  are  pro- 
vided respectively  for  the  sexes. 

Like  other  needed  structures  upon  the  Park,  which  experience 
demonstrates  have  never  exceeded  in  accommodation  the  demands 
of  the  public,  the  picnic  shelter  affords  a  class  of  accommodation 


♦ 


11 


which  should  be  and  must  be  more  liberally  arranged  for,  if  it  is 
purposed  to  meet  the  requirements  in  this  important  particular. 
The  building  at  present  serves  a  most  useful  purpose,  and  fur- 
nishes all  that  could  possibly  be  secured  within  the  limited  expen- 
diture to  which  the  Commissioners  have  been  restricted. 

THE  POET  MOORE. 

In  the  month  of  May  last  there  w  as  erected  on  the  Park,  under 
the  auspices  and  at  the  expense  of  the  St.  Patrick's  Society  of 
this  city,  a  substantial  memorial  to  the  poet  Moore,  consisting  of 
an  elaborate  pedestal  of  granite  and  a  bust  of  bronze  by  the 
sculptor  Draddy,  very  happily  representing  the  subject  at  mid-age 
of  his  life. 

On  the  L'.Sth  of  the  same  month,  being  the  centennial  anniver- 
sary of  the  poet,  the  memorial  was  unveiled  with  appropriate 
ceremonies,  in  which  many  prominent  citizens  participated.  The 
presentation  was  made  to  the  Park  Commissioners  by  Hon. 
Thomas  Kinsella,  President  of  St.  Patrick's  Society,  and  was  for- 
mally accepted,  on  behalf  of  the  Park  Commissioners,  by  the  Hon. 
J.  S.  T.  Stranahan.  An  oration  was  also  delivered  by  Mr.  C.  W. 
Brooke  of  New  York,  and  an  original  poem  was  read  by  Mr. 
Andrew  McLean.  The  bust  and  pedestal  occupies  a  site  upon 
one  of  the  turfed  spaces  within  the  Pedestrian  Concourse,  and  is 
most  eligibly  and  appropriately  located.  It  is  readily  accessible 
to  visitors  on  foot  and  in  carriages,  to  whom  the  "  counterfeit 
presentment,"  in  enduring  bronze,  of  the  author  of  the  "  Songs 
of  Ireland"  and  "Lalla,  Rookh  "  will  be  an  added  attraction  to 
this  charming  spot. 

The  principal  mechanical  work  daring  the  last  two  years  has 
been  confined  mainly  to  the  repairs  which,  from  time  to  time 
have  been  found  necessary  upon  the  buildings,  bridges,  summer 
houses,  boat  landings,  seats,  fences,  *fec.  The  record  of  new 
work,  as  will  be  seen,  is  necessarily  a  limited  one  and  the  ex- 
penditure involved  comparatively  trifling.  The  new  structures 
particularly,  have  been  provided  in  response  to  a  clearly  defined 
demand  which  has  grown  out  of  the  more  general  use  of  the 
Park. 

As  intimately  connected  with  the  general  work  of  construction, 
a  review  of  which  during  the  past  five  years  is  contained  in  the 
preceding  pages,  may  be  enumerated  several  of  the  more  import- 
ant features  contemplated  in  the  design  of  the  Park  for  which  no 
appropriations  have  as  yet  been  provided.    The  tact  exists,  and  it 

2 


12 


is  perhaps  unfortunate  that  it  is  so,  that  in  these  essential  features 
the  Park  is  still  incomplete.  If  the  unity  ami  harmony  of  de- 
sign to  which  these  works  are  essentially  contrihutary  were 
secured  by  their  successful  completion,  the  ultimate  question  of 
the»future  substantial  enclosure  of  the  Park,  while  now  desirable 
and  which  some  day  will  be  necessary,  may  be  further  postponed. 

The  details  of  the  work  to  which  reference  is  here  made  may 
be  enumerated  as  follows  : 

First — The  completion  of  the  large  bridge  connecting  the 
central  drive  across  the  inner  arm  of  the  lake  near  the  present 
temporary  bridge  at  the  base  of  Lookout  Hill.  This  structure 
is  intended  to  be  an  imposing  and  substantial  one  hut  not  neces- 
sarily elaborate  or  expensive  in  design.  It  will  he  required  to 
span  a  stream  and  walk,  which  combined  are  seventy  feet  in 
width. 

Second — Near  this  bridge,  upon  the  high  plateau  to  the  right  it 
is  contemplated  to  erect  a  hotel  and  refectory  suitable  to  the 
future  needs  of  the  Park.  The  sight  is  a  commanding  one,  and 
overlooking  the  lake  and  Park  below  and  extending  over  the 
intervening  country  is  the  ocean  itself. 

Third — Another  structure  has  been  contemplated,  to  lie  placed 
upon  the  site  of  the  temporary  bell  tower,  now  removed,  which 
formerly  stood  at  the  top  of  Lookout  Hill,  the  most  commanding 
point  of  the  Park.  As  an  observatory,  the  appropriateness  of 
which  is  concided,  the  fine  lookout  includes  within  its  range 
three  large  cities  and  two  noble  rivers  on  one  hand,  and  the 
series  of  old  towns  replete  with  historical  interest  and  forming  a 
delightful  suburban  outlook  over  a  pleasing  landscape,  the  New 
York  Bay,  Sandy  Hook  and  the  gateway  to  the  Atlantic  on  the 
other.  These  naturally  suggest  and  justify  some  provision  of  this 
character.  The  building  itself  should  be  an  attractive  one,  and 
might  include  among  its  utilities  a  repository  for  meteorological 
apparatus  and  a  systematic  observation  of  the  natural  phenomena 
arranged,  for  which  a  building,  as  proposed,  would  afford  the 
necessary  facilities. 

Fourth — A  considerable  area  of  the  Park,  extending  from  the 
site  of  the  proposed  building  just  described  to  the  angle  in  the 
southerly  boundary  of  the  Park  formed  by  the  junction  of  the 
old  Coney  Island  road  and  Fifteenth  street  and  the  contiguous 


13 


area,  upon  which  but  little  work  has  been  done,  will  require  to  be 
brought  under  a  more  extensive  cultivation ;  the  roads  and  walks 
extended  through  them,  and  the  surfaces  adjusted  to  conform  to 
the  adjacent  completed  portions  ot  the  Park. 

On  the  principal  portion  of  these  grounds  are  located  a  series 
of  buildings  which  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Commissioners 
with  the  land  upon  which  they  stand,  and  from  the  commence- 
ment of  operations  in  1866  to  the  present  time  have  been  used 
for  offices,  shops  and  stables  for  the  construction  and  maintenance 
force.  No  other  expenditure  has  been  incurred  on  the  Park  for 
the  purpose  for  which  these  buildings  were  used  except,  as  may 
have  grown  out  of  the  current  necessities  of  the  work.  These 
buildings  are  now  in  a  dilapidated  and  almost  uninhabitable  con- 
dition and  in  the  adjustment  of  the  area  above  referred  to  will 
properly  disappear.  Accommodation  will  then  have  to  be  pro- 
vided for  similar  purposes  elsewhere,  and  a  sum  sufficient  to  erect 
a  building  for  the  permanent  offices,  police  station,  shops  and 
stables  will  become  a  necessary  expenditure  at  an  early  day. 

Upon  the  larger  of  our  small  parks,  in  which  the  residents  of 
the  neighborhood  are  more  particularly  interested,  there  exists 
the  need  of  additional  provision  for  the  public  convenience,  such  as 
on  several  occasions  the  Commissioners  have  ineffectually  en- 
deavored to  secure.  Among  the  most  important  of  these  may  be 
mentioned  a  building  containing  a  waiting  room  for  women  and 
children,  with  closets,  &c,  and  similar  accommodations  for  males, 
together  with  an  increased  water  supply. 

THE   SMALL  PARKS. 

WASHINGTON  OR  FORT  GREENE  PARK. 

This  Park  covers  an  area  of  over  thirty  acres,  comprising  the 
most  conspicuous  and  important  of  the  smaller  parks  within  the 
city,  and  lies  in  the  midst  of  a  well-developed  and  thickly-popu- 
lated  neighborhood.  With  a  varied  topography,  the  principal 
characteristic  of  which  is  its  elevated  plateau,  rising  considerably 
above  the  grade  of  the  streets  surrounding  it,  the  Park  commands 
many  interesting  views  of  the  city,  the  East  River,  the  lower  bay, 
and  altogether  combines  very  happily  many  of  the  most  desirable 
features  of  a  city  recreation  ground.  It  is  an  historic  localitv, 
and  the  record  of  events  which  have  occurred  in  its  neiffhbor- 
hood  and  upon  portions  of  the  area  as  well,  will  be  found  in  the 
annals  of  our  struggles  for  liberty.  These  details  are  especially 
familiar  to  our  people,  from  the  fact  that  the  collection  and  col- 


14 


lation  of  data,  not  ordinarily  contained  in  the  history  of  the  time, 
have  been  made  a  matter  of  study  and  research  by  some  of  our 
prominent  citizens.  The  account  of  the  general  design  and  im- 
provement of  this  work  may  be  found  in  our  earlier  reports. 
The  Commissioners  record  the  fact  wirh  satisfaction,  that  the  Park 
has  justified  fully  the  expenditure  of  the  money  appropriated  for 
its  development,  and  now  affords  a  desirable,  pleasant  and  health- 
ful resort  fur  all  residents  of  the  neighborhood  to  whom,  as  well 
as  the  surrounding  property,  the  Park  has  specially  proved  in 
many  ways  to  lie  a  great  benefit. 

The  details  of  construction  since  the  last  report  are  as  follows  : 
The  completion  of  the  enclosing  walls  along  DeKalb  avenue, 
from  Cumberland  street  to  the  City  Hospital  grounds.  The  work 
consisted  of  :i  heavy  rubble  masonry  wall,  with  granite  coping, 
similar  in  design  to  that  portion  of  the  wall  previously  built,  and 
was  satisfactorily  finished  by  contract  with  Mr.  James  Ashfield  of 
this  city,  at  :i  cost  of  Si 0,412.20. 

The  completion  of  the  surfaces  contiguous  to  the  wall  inside 
the  Park,  comprising  the  necessary  tilling,  shaping,  soiling,  seed- 
ing and  planting  was  done  by  the  Park  force,  as  was  also  the 
grading  of  the  street  sidewalks  and  the  completion  of  the  tree 
planting  on  the  same. 

Within  the  past  six  years  the  sum  of  $9,101.18  has  been  set 
apart  at  various  times  by  the  Board  of  Estimate  for  the  further 
improvement  of  the  terraces,  saluting  battery,  approach,  <fcc, 
which  form  a  conspicuous  feature  in  the  improvement  at  the 
northwesterly  angle  of  the  Park,  at  the  junction  of  Canton 
street  and  Myrtle  avenue.  Part  of  this  was  done  in  previous 
years,  by  which  was  outlined  and  defined  the  general  character  of 
the  work.  A  considerable  area  of  walk  surfaces  was  covered  with 
bituminous  concrete  with  good  effect  and  at  a'  moderate  cost, 
this  class  of  materia!  being  very  desirable  for  walk  surfaces 
where  the  grades  are  steep  and  changeable.  Other  repairs  found 
to  be  necessary  from  time  to  time  were  made,  to  different 
branches  of  the  work. 

On  the  night  of  duly  '■'>,  1876,  the  centenary  of  the  Indepen- 
dence of  the  United  States  was  celebrated  by  an  imposing  pro- 
cession, attended  with  appropriate  exercises,  at  the  site  of  the 
tombof  the  Martyrs  of  the  Revolution.  The  ceremonies  were  par- 
ticipated in  by  leading  citizens,  and  consisted  of  music,  addresses, 
singing  and  other  patriotic  demonstrations.  During  the  progress 
of  these  exercises  resolutions  laudatory  of  the  brave  deeds  of 


15 


the  Martyrs  were  adopted,  together  with  a  proposition  looking  to 
the  completion  of  the  unfinished  tomb  and  monument,  which 
would  suitably  commemorate  the  patriotism,  bravery  and  suffer- 
ing of  the  Prison  Ship  Martyrs. 

In  pursuance  of  the  object  of  the  passage  of  these  resolutions, 
the  Mayor,  the  Honorable  Frederick  A.  Schroeder,  appointed  a 
Committee,  consisting  of  twenty-five  citizens,  who  were  author- 
ized to  memorialize  Congress  in  behalf  of  the  object,  and  to  take 
such  other  action  in  conjunction  with  the  Congressional  repre- 
sentatives of  the  county  as  they  should  deem  necessary. 

it  is  occasion  for  regret  that  a  sum  could  not  be  obtained 
sufficient  to  insure  the  completion  of  this  work,  and  for  the  con- 
struction   of    the   Martyrs'  memorial    without    further  delay. 

Allusion  was  made  in  a  previous  report  to  the  Common  Council 
of  last  year  to  at)  appropriation  of  $4,<J00  for  flagging  the  ex- 
terior sidewalks  at  Fort  Greene.  The  work  consisted  of  blue- 
stone  flag,  six  feet  in  width,  laid  upon  the  walks  around  the  ex- 
terior boundary  of  the  Park,  and  was  satisfactorily  done  by  Mr. 
P.  Lynon  of  this  city  at  the  rate  of  13^  cents  per  square  foot. 

The  step?,  platforms,  battery  walls,  coping,  &c,  which  com- 
prise the  elements  of  this  walk  were  procured  by  contract 
at  various  periods.  The  work  was  brought  to  completion  in  1878 
by  the  erection  of  the  battery  wall  on  the  upper  plateau;  the 
necessary  earthwork,  foundations,  grading,  seeding  and  planting, 
&c,  of  the  contiguous  surfaces  were  subsequently  done  by  the 
Park  force.  In  1875,  six  iron  gates,  flanked  by  coping  railings 
of  appropriate  design,  were  erected  at  the  several  entrances  to 
the  Park,  by  the  aid  of  which  the  ordinances  proscribing  the  use 
of  the  Park  at  night  are  more  effectually  enforced. 

Temporary  buildings  for  the  use  of  women  and  children,  and 
for  the  keepers,  were  severally  provided,  and  the  supply  of  drink- 
ing hydrants  was  increased  to  a  small  extent,  in  order  to  accom- 
modate the  children  who  frequent  the  Park  in  large  numbers 
during  the  fine  weather  throughout  the  year. 

CITY  PARK. 

The  material  deterioration  in  value  and  character,  of  the  prop- 
erty which  forms  the  neighborhood  surrounding  City  Park, 
clearly  indicates  the  tendency  which  has  prevailed  during  the 
several  past  years  to  abandon  it  as  a  desirable  place  of  residence. 
Unimproved  property  continues  to  be  idle  and  its  use  for  busi- 
ness purposes,  especially  for  the  manufacture  and  storage  of  bulkv 


i<; 


:m<l  coarse  materials,  is  already  foreshadowed.  A  considerable 
sum  of  money  has  been  expended  from  time  to  time  upon  the 
City  Park  with  a  view  to  maintain  it  in  a  condition  which,  in  the 
judgment  of  the  Commissioners,  was  warranted  by  the  circum- 
stances. The  plan  of  the  work  was  remodelled,  walks  re-graded 
and  surfaced  accordingly, and  the  turf spac  s  resoiied  and  seeded; 
old,  dead  and  unsightly  trees  removed  and  replaced  by  numbers 
of  young  and  thrifty  stock  of  choice  varieties  :  the  enclosing  fence 
and  gateways  were  repaired  and  every  effort  made  to  preserve 
the  Park  for  legitimate  purposes.  The  ordinances  of  the  Com- 
missioners have  been  disregarded,  the  city  authorities  even  defied, 
and  every  species  of  property  amenable  to  destruction  have, 
from  time  to  time,  been  subjected  to  wanton  and  persistent  abuse. 
The  iron  gates  which  at  night  were  closed  and  interposed  as  a 
bar  to  the  improper  use  of  the  Park,  so  much  complained  of  in 
former  years,  hare  been  broken  or  violently  wrenched  oil'  the 
hinges,  in  the  necessary  absence  of  the  police.  This  condition 
of  things  has  led  the  Commissioners  to  consider  the  question  of 
appropriating  this  area  to  other  and  more  useful  purposes,  and  to 
reiterate  their  suggestion  contained  in  former  reports  of  devoting 
the  Park  to  the  use  of  a  public  market,  in  support  of  this  rec- 
ommendation a  still  further  and  cogent  reason  may  be  found  in 
the  fact  that  Washington  Park  or  Port  Greene,  it  would  seem  to 
the  Commissioners,  entirely  supersedes  the  necessity  for  the  City 
Park  for  all  essential  purposes  and  advantages.  It  is  more 
desirably  located,  is  ample  in  area,  with  greater  justification  and 
for  possibilities  of  embellishment,  and  is  every  way  sufficient 
as  a  recreation  ground  for  the  present  and  future  needs  of  that 
portion  of  the  city.  A  careful  consideration  of  this  recommen- 
dation would  lead  our  thinking  citizens  to  agree  with  the  Com- 
missioners in  the  estimate  of  value  to  be  placed  upon  a  con- 
venient and  commodious  public  market  upon  the  present  site 
of  City  Park.  This  location  is  well  suited  for  the  purposes  indi- 
cated, the  facilities  of  approach  and  communication  are  such  as  to 
add  to  its  resources  and  render  it  in  many  desirable  respects  a 
successful  competitor  for  a  large  share  of  the  business  which,  for 
want  of  just  such  conveniences,  is  carried  across  the  river  to  New 
York.  No  other  reason  than  that  the  facilitiesdo  not  now  exist  pre- 
vents Brooklyn,  to-day,  from  being  the  market  of  much  of  the 
varied  supply  of  farm  products  of  Long  Island,  which  not  only 
includes  a  considerable  share  of  cereals,  hut  hundreds  of  thousands 
of  dollars'  worth  of  vegetables,  milk,  eggs,  poultry,  &c.  With 


17 


direct  railroad  communication,  to  be  easily  arranged  for  with 
all  parts  of  the  island,  and  with  New  York  as  well,  it  is  possible, 
in  the  judgment  of  the  Commissioners,  to  secure  to  Brooklyn  a 
profitable  and  extended  business  in  this  important  direction. 
Already  the  authorities  of  New  York  are  called  upon  to  meet 
a  very  perplexing  question  in  connection  with  the  demand 
of  the  sellers  of  produce  of  all  kinds,  for  suitable  space  for  the 
display  and  sale  of  their  goods  and  supplies.  It  is  doubtful 
whether,  within  the  whole  limits  of  the  city,  there  can  be  provi- 
ded such  accommodation  which  for  convenience  can  compare 
favorably  with  those  w  hich  City  Park  may  be  reasonably  looked  to, 
to  afford.  The  proposition  to  appropriate  it  to  such  use  has  recei  ved 
much  consideration  from  this  Board  and  has  met  with  the  approval 
of  many  of  our  most  sagacious  citizens.  The  commonest  precepts 
,  of  municipal  economy  should  lead  us  to  regard  such  a  use  of  pub- 
lic property  as  a  very  appropriate  one,  the  results  of  which  can- 
not fail  to  open  up  new  and  fertile  resources  of  business  and  rev- 
enue to  the  community. 

CARROLL  PARK. 

No  new  work  has  been  done  upon  this  Park  during  the  period 
covered  by  this  report.  • 

TOMPKINS  PARK. 

No  work  has  been  done  upon  this  Park  since  its  completion 
except  to  the  extent  of  erecting  a  small  building  of  brick  and 
wood,  containing  water-closets  and  other  conveniences  for  the 
public  use,  and  a  general  repair  of  the  enclosing  fence,  which  was 
remodelled  out  of  the  old  material  and  reduced  in  height.  Dur- 
the  centennial  year  a  large  flag-staff  was  erected  by  the  Park  Com- 
missioners in  order  to  make  use  of  a  large  American  ensign  which 
had  been  presented  to  the  Commissioners  by  patriotic  citizens 
residing  in  the  neighborhood. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  maple  trees  were  planted  and 
boxed  on  the  exterior  sidewalks  of  the  Park. 

A  small  triangular  area,  containing  about  one-tenth  of  an  acre, 
located  at  the  junction  of  Broadway,  Throop  avenue  and  Gwin- 
nett streets,  in  the  Eastern  District,  was  improved  by  the  Com- 
missioners with  money  ($4,000)  specially  appropriated  by  the 
Common  Council  for  the  purpose.  The  work  consisted  of  re- 
grading,  sodding  and  planting  the  interior  space,  the  erection  of 
an  ornamental  iron  fence  and  lamp  posts  and  the  planting  and 
boxing  of  shade  trees  on  the  exterior  sidewalks. 


18 


CITY  HALL  PARK. 

This  area,  though  nominally  under  (lie  jurisdiction  of  the  Park 
Commissioners,  has  for  several  seasons  occupied  the  attention  of 
the  Common  Council,  under  whose  direction  the  Hoard  of  City 
Works  have  carried  out  in  a  modified  and  not  altogether  satisfac- 
tory  form,  a  series  of  alterations,  from  which  it  must  he  conceded, 
the  general  public  have  derived  advantage. 

MAINTENANCE  AND  THE  PUBLIC  USE  OF  THE  PARKS,  Ac 

As  sustaining  the  object  and  aim  for  which  the  parks  were 
established,  the  subject  of  maintenance  is  the  most  important 
which  the  Commissioners,  under  the  existing  state  of  things,  lias 
to  consider,  and  they  arc  constrained  at  the  outset,  to  dwell  upon 
the  embarrassments  under  which  they  labor.  They  feel  this  not 
less  keenly  from  the  fact  that  they  are  supposed  to  possess  an 
intimate  knowledge  of  the  requirements  of  the  important  works 
under  their  care,  and  for  which  they  are  held  responsible. 

It  will  be  generally  conceded  that  no  work  of  construction  for 
permanent  public  use  can  be  brought  to  a  stage  of  completion 
that  will  not  need,  from  that  moment,  a  wise,  continuous  expendi- 
ture for  its  maintenance  and  preservation.  This  applies  with 
doilble  force  to  a  work  so  complex  in  character  as  our  park, 
whose  natural  features  must  be  maintained  in  their  integrity,  re- 
quiring the  exercise  of  careful  discrimination  and  taste  in  the 
selection  of  the  various  utilities  that,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Com- 
missioners, may  be  best  adapted  to  popular  convenience  and  pleas- 
ure. 

The  growing  popularity  of  Prospect  Park  with  all  classes  of 
citizens,  while  affording  the  utmost  satisfaction  to  the  Com- 
missioners, has  entailed  constant  and  increasing  responsibilities, 
it  must  be  obvious  that  with  the  increased  use  of  the  Park,  and 
consequently,  the  more  rapid  wearing  out  of  its  numerous  im- 
provements, and  the  requirement  at  some  points  of  enlarged 
conveniences  to  meet  a  public  demand,  there  is  great  need  that 
the  appropriation  for  maintenance  should  be  increased.  Take  for 
example  a  roadway  over  which  one  hundred  vehicles  pass  in  a 
day,  it  requires  constantly  a  certain  amount  of  expense  to  pre- 
serve it.  Increase  the  number  to  five  hundred,  and  it  is  entirely 
plain  that  the  cost  of  maintenance,  to  keep  it  in  proper  order,  will 
be  greater  for  the  same  length  of  time.  When  this  reasoning  is 
applied  to  all  the  appointments  of  the  Parks  that  are  being 
subjected  to  an  annually  increasing  use,  the  inferences  are  too 
plain  to  need  extended  notice. 


1!) 


Central  Park  with  entirely  different  topography,  many  im- 
provements not  corresponding  in  usefulness  to  those  in  this 
city,  and  subjected  to  more  restrictive  regulations,  has  been  the 
only  available  public  pleasure  resort,  the  management  of  which 
was  likely  to  offer  suggestions  as  to  intelligent  maintenance;  and 
this  has  afforded  but  a  limited  held  for  useful  hints.  Our  Park 
is  much  better  calculated,  in  its  resources  for  popular  enjoyment, 
than  Central  Park,  to  give  general  satisfaction  to  our  citizens, 
and  the  novel  and  varied  improvements  which  have  followed 
upon  its  public  use  have  necessitated  an  extent  and  variety  of  ex- 
penditure not  contemplated  in  the  original  scheme  of  mainten- 
ance. At  this  point,  therefore,  the  Commissioners  feel  it  in- 
cumbent upon  them  to  seek  to  impress  the  fact  upon  the  minds  of 
the  people  of  Brooklyn,  that  while,  for  a  given  amount  of  money, 
it  would  be  entirely  just  to  expect  a  larger  return  in  labor  or 
material  at  this  time  as  against  a  period  of  five  or  ten  years  ago, 
during  which  both  labor  and  material  were  abnormally  high,  it 
must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  provisions  for  maintaining  the 
parks,  which  were  sufficient  live  or  ten  years  ago,  are  not 
adequate  now,  for  the  following  reasons  :  At  the  time  when  ar- 
rangements for  a  separate  maintenance  fund  were  first  made,  the 
Park  roads,  walks  and  structures,  together  with  the  meadows  and 
plantations,  had  just  been  completed  and  thrown  open  to  public 
use,  and  were,  in  such  condition  as  to  be  best  litted  for  that  use, 
which  in  itself  was  not  nearly  so  general  as  at  the  present  time. 
Therefore,  while  the  work  of  restoration  and  repair  was  compara- 
tively small,  the  expenditure  met  all  reasonable  requirements, 
and  satisfactorily  maintained  the  finished  portions  of  the  work. 

Our  drives  and  other  thoroughfares  have  since  been  subjected 
to  a  constant  use,  and  the  very  limited  amount  of  labor  and 
material  which  we  have  been  enabled  to  provide  for  their  main- 
tenance have  not  been  sufficient  to  restore  or  keep  them  up  to 
the  condition  of  their  original  construction,  nor  to  preserve  them 
in  such  a  way  as  to  make  them  conducive  in  the  highest  degree 
to  the  pleasure  and  comfort  of  those  who  use  them.  The  Com- 
missioners, with  the  liveliest  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the 
welfare  of  their  own  city,  have  regarded  it  as  their  highest  duty 
to  conserve  those  means  which  would  be  likely  to  encourage  and 
develop  a  taste  for  outdoor  recreation  and  a  habit  of  frequent 
resort  to  the  parks.  Inadequately  supplied  with  means  sufficient 
to  accomplish  all  that  might  in  times  of  greater  business  pros- 
perity be  reasonably  demanded  for  perfect  maintenance,  they 

3 


20 


have  Bought  to  make  the  most  economic  use  of  the  resources 
placed  at  their  disposal.  The  Commissioners  assume  that  a  judi- 
cious administration  of  their  functions  will  lie  best  appreciated  in 
utilizing  the  means  at  their  command  in  a  manner  besl  calculated 
to  develop  the  use  of  the  parks  in  their  largest  sense.  Prospect 
Park  alone  not  only  requires  a  large  amount  of  care,  which  is 
not  noted  by  the  casual  observer,  but  its  visible  features  demand 
constant  supervision,  and  are  oftentimes  so  exacting  and  perplexing 
as  to  justify  and  impose  great  responsibility.  The  underground 
work,  such  as  the  drainage  and  water  supply,  is  of  the  first  im- 
portance, entailing  unceasing  vigilance  and  unremitting  care. 
A  similar  necessity  arises  with  the  buildings,  bridges  and  other 
structures,  the  roads  and  walks,  the  broad  acres  of  turf  and 
plantations  and  the  water  areas. 

Perhaps  no  single  element  of  park  design  invites  such  direct 
and  frequent  observation  and  criticism  as  the  roads,  and  no 
features  are  more  likely  to  demand  more  constant  and  consider- 
able expenditure,  as  with  each  season  the  number  of  citizens 
increases  who  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  which  the  Park 
and  connecting  drives  afford  for  pleasure  driving.  It  seems  but 
a  short  time  since  there  was  but  little  of  such  driving  in  Brooklyn, 
and  the  large  number,  and  varied  character  of  the  equipages 
which  now  throng  the  Park  in  gay  procession  was  scarcely  to  be 
foreshadowed.  It  will  not  be  many  years  before  the  outstretch- 
ing city  will  have  destroyed  many  of  the  rural  charms  of  the 
suburban  districts,  and  the  inevitable  encroachments  will  so  en- 
hance the  value  of  the  drives  already  secured  to  the  people  of 
Brooklyn  that  they  will  be  looked  upon  as  affording  advantages 
which  cannot  be  dispensed  with.  It  is  quite  evident  to  the  Com- 
missioners that  a  large  part  of  the  expenditure  in  the  future  must 
of  necessity  pertain  to  the  restoration  of  the  roads,  it  must  be 
borne  in  mind  that  a  system  of  roads  designed  almost  exclusively 
for  pleasure  riding,  entail  not  only  responsible  engineering,  such 
as  is  given'  to  the  construction  of  any  other  properly  built  work, 
but  requires,  in  addition,  a  more  constant  supervision,  and  the 
maintenance  of  a  compact  and  even  surface,  without  which  they 
cease  to  afford  that  degree  of  comfort  and  pleasure  which  is 
desirable  and  expected  from  them.  The  Commissioners  have  not 
been  able  to  expend  in  labor  and  material  as  much  as  ought  to  be 
devoted  to  this  branch  of  the  work,  and  until  the  surfaces  can  be 
substantially  restored  to  a  condition  corresponding  measurably 
to  that  of  the  original  construction,  they  will  continue  to  prove 


21 


move  or  less  unsatisfactory  and  meet  with  adverse  criticism. 
We  liave  been  reasonably  successful  in  meeting  the  demands  of 
the  public;  we  have  been  fortunate  in  our  resources,  and  in  the 
advantages  afforded  by  the  observation  of  other  works  which 
have  enabled  us  to  improve  upon  plans  and  methods  of  con- 
struction, and  iu  many  instances  to  substitute  others  which  have 
resulted  in  great  economy  in  first  cost ;  but  our  operations  and 
progress  in  the  future,  while  they  must  properly  lie  guided  by  the 
same  consideration  of  economy,  must  be  measured  in  their  extent 
and  variety  by  the  money  which  shall  be  placed  at  our  disposal 
for  judicious  disbursements,  in  their  accomplishment. 

No  large  community  capable  of  managing  its  municipal  affairs 
can  be  so  blinded  by  narrow- sighted  frugality  as  to  disregard  the 
claims  of  a  great  recreation  ground  as  among  the  most  powerful 
and  economical  influences  for  improving  its  moral  and  physical 
status.  In  a  large  city  the  majority  of  whose  inhabitants  remain 
within  its  limits  throughout  the  year,  and  only  the  few  compara- 
tively more  fortunate  than  the  rest,  are  able  to'  seek  enjoyment 
and  repose  in  the  country,  the  provision  and  maintenance  of  the 
parks  in  their  amplest  resources  should  be  a  conceded  necessity. 
The  money  expended  in  the  construction  and  required  in  the 
care  of  these  must,  in  the  nature  of  things,  be  an  outlay  similar  in 
its  operation  to  that  which  prompts  intelligent  individuals  to  seek 
for  themselves  such  measures  of  recreation  and  mental  and 
bodily  relaxation  as  are  likely  to  conserve  the  health  and  energies 
of  the  system  and  enable  them  to  best  enjoy  life.  To  thought- 
lessly characterize  it  as  an  expensive  luxury  to  be  dispensed  with 
without  sacrifice,  or  to  say  that  its  benefits  are  alone  attainable 
by  a  privileged  class,  is  to  ignore  the  Old  World  experience  and 
the  result  of  observation  and  study  of  our  best  thinkers.  The 
parks  are  not  alone  for  the  pleasure  of  the  masses  of  our  popu- 
lation ;  but  are  calculated  to  enhance  health  and  comfort.  Con- 
sidered in  their  sanitary  aspects  alone,  they  unquestionably  rank 
among  the  greatest  conservators  of  public  welfare  and  therefore 
public  economy.  They  offer,  in  the  aggregate,  attractions  that  are 
found  elsewhere  in  piecemeal,  and  often  in  questionable  resorts; 
they  are  divested  of  all  meretricious  associations  or  exposure  to 
immoral  or  physical  dangers.  They  are  free  and  refreshing, 
while  similar  attractions  in  detail  presented  elsewhere  are  expen- 
sive, or  leave  the  visitor  under  a  painful  sense  of  obligation  which 
oftentimes  he  is  not  "in  a  position  to  discharge,  and  which  if  he 
does  discharge  he  feels  the  worse  tor. 


22 


Whether  considered  in  their  individual  or  collective  uses,  the 
parks  are  great  moral  and  intellectual  educators  and  conduce  to 
the  peace  and  prosperity  of  every  citizen,  it  is  a  significant  fact 
to  be  noted  that,  on  holidays  or  other  occasions  when  thousands 
of  people  mingle  there  with  each  other,  arrests  for  infractions  of  the 
peace  are  very  rarely  necessary.  Our  parks  for  these  and  many 
other  reasons  that  might  be  urged,  are  in  themselves  sources  of 
health  and  prosperity  to  the  people,  whose  value  cannot  he  prop- 
erly estimated  without  due  weight  being  given  to  these  features 
of  the  question.  Their  cost  and  maintenance  in  such  a  com- 
parison Miiks  into  insignificance. 

France  and  Germany  have  their  public  parks  and  gardens;  and 
the  great  city  of  London,  with  its  dens  .'  population,  commands 
over  6,000  acres  of  public  grounds  for  general  use. 

While  the  more  recent  embellishments  of  these  grounds  may 
be  open  to  criticism,  yet  aided  by  their  wonderfully  picturesque 
road  system,  throughout  the  rural  districts  of  the  kingdom,  they 
accomplish  more  for  the  preservation  of  health  of  the  people  than 
they  have  ever  been  given  credit  for,  in  rendering  habitable 
large  sections  of  once  ugly,  gloomy  portions  of  the  older  city. 
The  suggestions  afforded  by  observation  of  the  parks  of  the  Old 
World  are  valuable  to  us  so  far  as  it  is  possible  to  make  an  eco- 
nomical adaptation  of  them  to  the  cosmopolitan  population  and  cus- 
toms of  the  new  ;  and  of  these  suggestions,  none  is  of  more  com- 
manding importance  and  interest  than  their  system  of  roadways. 
Whether  regarded  from  an  aesthetic  or  from  a  utilitarian  point  of 
view,  their  proper  construction  and  maintenance  are  justly  held 
to  be  of  primary  necessity. 

It  is  not  deemed  necessary  to  enter  in  detail  upon  the  reasons 
why  our  park  thoroughfares  and  structures  should  be  kept  up  to 
a  corresponding  grade  of  excellence.  They  need  complete  reno- 
vation, and  delay  in  this  important  detail  of  work  would  in  the 
judgment  of  the  Park  Commissioners  be  unwise  economy.  The 
thorough  renewal  of  the  Park  surfaces  would  now  after  nearly 
twelve  years  continuous  use  necessitate  special  expenditure. 

The  liberal  provisions  afforded  by  the  construction  of  the  Ocean 
Parkway,  the  increase  cf  patronage,  and  the  greater  freedom  per- 
mitted in  the  speed  of  horses,  have  in  some  respects  changed  the 
character  of  the  use  of  a  portion  of  the  Park  drives.  In  the 
original  design,  it  was  contemplated  that  the  series  of  lanes  which 
pass  through  the  East  Wood  would  divide  travel  and  divert  it, 
in  part,  from  the  main  road,  from  Baltic  Pass  to  the  south,  and 


23 


concentrate  it  again  in  the  main  drive  beyond.  The  object  in- 
tended was  to  invite  the  use  of  this  wooded  area  as  one  of  the 
attractive  features  in  the  circuit,  but  the  American  characteris- 
tic of  taking  the  shortest  road  between  two  points  has  here 
ignored  aesthetic  considerations  and  asserted  itself,  indicating 
what  would  seem  to  be  a  desirable  improvement,  viz.,  the  widen- 
ing of  tl lis  portion  of  the  main  drive  for  the  greater  convenience 
and  safety  of  visitors.  For  this  reason,  the  greater  width  of  a 
thoroughfare-drive  at  this  point  becomes  a  necessity. 

It  is  very  gratifying  to  record  the  fact,  that  the  number  of  eques- 
trian visitors  is  increasing  each  year,  indicating  a  growing  love 
for  this  healthful  and  exhilarating  exercise.  The  proper  man- 
agement of  a  bridle  road  involves  expense  and  care,  and  the 
demands  upon  our  attention  in  this  particular  are  likely  to  in- 
crease with  the  marked  popularity  of  the  Park  in  the  respect  to 
which  Ave  have  just  alluded.  Our  walks,  the  treatment  of  which 
has,  for  like  reasons,  corresponded  to  that  of  the  roads,  require 
a  similar  general  repair. 

There  exists  at  this  time  a  most  pressing  necessity  for  an  ex- 
tensive readjustment  and  modification  of  our  plantations,  which, 
in  the  number  and  extent  of  choice  varieties,  comprises  a  collec- 
tion of  evergreen  and  deciduous  material  of  distinguished  charac- 
ter which  only  the  most  reckless  disregard  of  the  critical  condition 
which  the  trees  and  shrubs,  everywhere  forming  the  essence  and 
spirit  of  landscape  attractions,  have  now  reached,  for  want  of 
means  necessary  to  care  for  them,  can  account  for  the  failure  to 
heed  the  request  and  warning  of  the  Commissioners  in  this 
particular. 

Several  partially  completed  portions  of  the  Park  lack  the  force 
and  character  which  a  proper  system  of  planting  alone  can  supply. 
In  the  finished  areas,  however,  a  large  number  of  trees  and  shrubs 
have  reached  such  a  condition  of  growth  as  to  make  it  necessary 
to  remove  many  of  them.  This  is  necessary,  not  only  for  the  pur- 
pose of  preserving  the  harmony  in  composition,  but  to  secure  a 
valuable  stock  of  plants  at  a  stage  of  development  most  desirable 
for  use  in  connection  with  new  wrork  and  which  had  been  origi- 
nally planted  with  a  view  to  secure  an  early  effective  display  with 
the  view  ultimately  of  utilizing  many  of  them  in  the  manner  and 
for  the  purposes  above  suggested. 

Our  lakes  and  water-bourses,  which  form  so  desirable  a  part  of 
well-balanced  park  design,  entail  upon  us  a  due  share  of  respon- 
sibility.   The  main  lake,  which  covers  an  area  of  over  50  acres, 


24 


offers  unusual  facilities  for  ice  and  water  sports,  and  the  untram- 
melled use  permitted  has  developed  a  taste  for  certain  aquatic 
amusements  which,  it  is  believed,  is  peculiar  to  Brooklyn. 

The  supply  for  a  lake  of  such  dimensions  is  derived  from  the 
following  sources  : 

First — The  natural  rainfall  due  to  the  area  covered  by  the 
hike  and  water-courses  of  the  Park. 

Second — The  surface  drainage  of  a  large  circumjacent  area 
flowing  directly  into  the  lake  over  turf,  and  other  surfaces,  and 
intercepted  by  suitable  silt  basins  along  the  line,  so  that  all  dele- 
terious matter  is  arrested  and  removed  from  time  to  time. 

Third — The  direct  supply  from  the  Park  well. 

The  depth  of  the  lake  averages  about  fi^  feet,  and  the  tem- 
perature of  the  water  has  never  been  known  to  reach  a  point 
at  which  the  poisonous  gases,  the  basis  of  malarial  troubles,  are 
generated  by  decomposition  of  vegetable  matter,  whose  growth  is 
superinduced  in  shallow  water  of  a  higher  temperature. 

The  capacity  of  the  well  is  such  as;  to  enable  us  to  supply,  at 
frequent  intervals,  large  volumes  of  pure  water  at  low  temperature  ; 
this,  with  the  aid  of  natural  agents,  as  evaporation  for  example, 
which,  for  a  period  of  twenty-four  hours,  in  summer,  will  equal 
nearly  500,000  gallons  of  water,  the  disturbance  of  the  surface 
by  the  winds  to  which  this  area  is  peculiarly  subject,  the  passage 
of  boats  and  the  movements  of  water-fowl,  affords  every  reason 
to  believe  that  at  no  time  since  the  completion  of  the  Park  has 
the  lake  caused  the  propagation  or  prevalence  of  malarial  diseases. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  very  thorough  system  of  underground 
drainage  in  operation  on  the  Park  has  relieved  the  large  area  to 
such  an  extent  as  to  offer  no  material  occasion  for  alarm  in  this 
particular. 

The  Kings  County  Medical  Society,  several  years  since, 
through  a  committee  of  physicians  appointed  to  consider  the 
general  subject  of  drainage  in  the  city  and  vicinity,  specially 
examined  the  drainage  system  of  the  Park,  and  cited  it  in  their 
reports  as  an  example  of  the  best  results  attending  a  well-devised 
plan  of  surface  and  subsoil  drainage. 

Some  anxiety  has  been  expressed  as  to  the  appearance  of  por- 
tions of  the  lake  in  summer,  where  there  has  been  an  accumula- 
tion of  vegetable  matter,  and  much  careless  criticism  has  been 
made  by  people  who  are  not  acquainted  with  its  real  causes. 


25 


Any  thoughtful  observer  of  the  varying  condition  of  water  stored 
in  reservoirs  and  artificial  lakes,  and  also  in  natural  waters,  will 
remember  to  have  seen  the  development  of  a  similiar  formation 
at  the  beginning  of  summer,  when  the  waters  contain  a  flavor 
and  odor  likened  to  a  fishy  taste  and  smell.  A  thorough  investi- 
gation, attended  with  careful  analysis,  has  disclosed  the  fact  that 
this  condition  is  brought  about  by  a  harmless  chemical  change  in 
organic  matter,  chiefly  a  growth  of  a  low  species  of  vegetation. 
This  produces  in  a  very  natural  way  a  class  of  aquatic  forms  of 
life,  themselves  agents  of  purification.  While  to  some  extent 
their  existence  may  sometimes  be  disagreeable  to  sight  and  smell, 
there  has  been  no  proof  adduced  yet  that  the  presence  of  such 
matter,  not  peculiar  to  our  lakes  at  this  period,  is  productive  of 
injury  to  health,  more  especially  alone,  do  we  believe  this  to  be 
the  case  from  the  fact  that  our  lake  is  singularly  free  from  any 
deleterious  growths,  and  it  is  not  made  the  receptacle  of  any  of 
the  filth  accumulated  in  any  portions  of  the  Park,  which  is 
specially  cared  for  and  disposed  of  in  such  a  manner  as  to  pre- 
clude the  possibility  of  danger  or  annoyance. 

Our  water  service  is  quite  as  elaborate  in  its  system  and  rami- 
fications as  would  be  that  required  to  supply  a  town  of  20,000 
inhabitants.  Special  reference  to  our  water  supply  is  made  else- 
where in  this  report. 

PUBLIC  USE  OF  THE  PARKS. 

The  homogeneous  character  of  our  people  heretofore  alluded 
to,  and  the  absence  of  transient  population  ordinarily  common  to 
a  large  city,  here  operate  to  secure  to  all  classes  of  citizens  free- 
dom from  many  restrictions  which,  in  other  cities,  it  is  found 
necessary  to  impose  upon  those  who  visit  the  parks.  The  adapt- 
ability of  a  considerable  portion  of  its  area  for  the  entertainment 
of  masses  of  people,  naturally  suggested  to  the  Commissioners 
the  most  liberal  construction  in  the  provisions  established  for 
governing  the  use  of  the  Park,  and  it  is  with  no  small  degree  of 
pride  that  they  view  the  varied  demands  for  popular  recreation  to 
which  the  resources  of  the  Park  so  happily  respond. 

It  is  almost  within  the  memory  of  oar  youth  that  the  Ameri- 
can people  have  developed  a  desire  for  Held  sports,  sufficiently 
strong  to  be  regarded  as  in  any  sense  a  popular  demand.  While 
there  has  been  at  all  times  an  abundant  surplus  in  the  energies  of 
the  people,  that,  rightly  directed,  would  find  agreeable  and 
healthful  recreation  in  systematic  pastimes  and  athletic  enjoy- 


26 


incuts,  furnished  OIJ  land  and  water,  it  required  the  fixed  de.stiny 
of  an  unfolding  civilization  to  bring  us  to  that  era.  The  demand 
for  pleasures  of  this  character  is  not  confined  to  one  sex,  nor  to 
the  age  of  childhood  or  youth  alone.  It  is  not  horn  of  a  caprice 
or  a  whim,  but  is  the  expression  of  a  popular  thought.  Its  whole- 
some gratification  gives  additional  health,  vigor  and  grace  to  our 
young  people,  and  tends  to  systematize  the  social  life  of  the  com- 
munity. To  meet  this  growing  and  laudable  sentiment,  the  pur- 
poses for  which  the  Park  was  intended,  have  in  a  sense  been 
modified  and  adapted  to  new  exigencies. 

The  rules  adopted  by  the  Commissioners,  were  prepared  with  a 
view  of  giving  each  individual,  the  largest  personal  liberty  and 
enjoyment  consistent  with  the  proper  preservation  of  the  Park. 

Our  beautiful  turf  and  wooded  areas,  as  well  as  our  walks  and 
roadways,  have  been  ottered  for  use  to  the  public  with  the  least 
restriction,  and  all  the  better  class  of  field  sports  have  found 
ready  growth  in  our  parks  or  other  grounds  under  our  care,  as  in 
no  other  in  this  country.  The  effect  has  been  to  multiply  local 
organizations  devoted  to  physical  development  and  training, 
make  more  universal  the  love  of  harmless  outdoor  amusements, 
and  to  improve  the  public  health.  In  corresponding  degree,  the 
water  surfaces  of  the  Park  have  been  availed  of  for  rowing,  sail- 
ing, yachting,  or  for  the  varied  amusements  of  the  winter  season. 
In  the  judgment  of  the  Commissioners,  the  relative  amount  of 
water,  the  open  Lawns,  and  the  proportion  of  spaces  for  more  se- 
questered enjoyments,  would  be,  one  day,  of  paramount  interest  to 
the  people  of  this  city,  and  events  have  justified  their  action  in  the 
accepted  designs  and  finish  of  the  Park.  The  people  at  large  are 
making  the  most  generous  use  of  the  grounds,  and  the  lovers  of 
more  specific  pastimes,  as  boating,  base  ball,  cricket,  lacrosse, 
archery,  croquet  or  skating,  throng  the  Park  and  its  appendages 
on  all  occasions  when  the  weather  is  propitious  for  these  respective 
pleasures.  That  the  policy  of  the  Commissioners  has  given  a 
large  impetus  to  these  various  enjoyments  has  already  been 
alluded  to,  but  its  results  cannot  be  too  strongly  commended  to 
the  attention  of  an  intelligent  public.  The  Park  has  proved  it- 
self a  vast,  healthful,  vitalizing  force  to  the  people  of  this  city, 
and  its  worth  cannot  be  estimated  pecuniarily;  its  uses  stimulate 
the  energies  and  quicken  the  pulses  of  thousands  ;  its  pervasive 
influence  elevates  the  moral  tone  of  the  community,  and  its 
great  mission  is  only  just  entered  upon. 


27 


The  people  of  Brooklyn  have  been  responsive  in  their  popular 
appreciation  of  the  Park  in  its  general  features,  but  no  person 
can  measure  the  usefulness  of  a  work  whose  influence  is  of  such 
diversified  nature,  acts  upon  a  half  million  of  people  and  proceeds 
upon  incalculable  progression. 

During  the  season  of  the  year  appropriate  to  its  usee,  our 
Parade  ground  has  been  in  constant  demand  by  large  numbers  of 
the  adults  and  youth  of  Brooklyn,  its  exceptional  appropriateness 
for  their  pleasures  not  only  attracting  many  local  organizations, 
but  athlehic  clubs  and  associations  of  various  kinds  from  New 
York  City  and  other  points  in  the  State,  as  well.  The  "  National  " 
game  of  base  ball  has  seemed  to  receive  new  vigor  as  a  popular 
pastime,  and  extended  to  every  social  circle  of  the  community. 
For  several  seasons  past  the  game  of  cricket  has  been  a  steady  and 
growing  amusement  at  the  Parade  ground  with  one  or  more  of 
the  oldest  clubs  in  this  country,  and  the  skill  that  is  required  in 
its  practice  has  of  late  iucreased  interest  in  it  as  a  sport,  and 
consequently  drawn  a  greater  number  to  engage  in  its  exercise. 

The  broad  lawns  of  the  Park  have  been  a  standing  invitation 
to  less  boisterous  amusements  than  those  just  referred  to,  and 
their  uses  for  croquet  playing,  promenades,  and  the  innocent 
exercise  of  people  of  both  sexes  and  all  ages,  have  given  the  Park 
a  fame  that  is  almost  national.  On  the  lake,  a  fleet  of  rowboats 
has  been  maintained  for  the  use  of  visitors,  and  it  has  received  a 
very  general  patronage  from  a  large  class  of  people  who  find 
peculiar  entertainment  in  this  kind  of  exercise  which  affords 
recreation,  not  only  directly  promotive  of  health  and  strength, 
but  which  is  attended  with  none  of  the  dangers  incident  to  deeper 
and  more  exposed  water.  In  the  broader  and  more  open  portion 
of  the  lake,  the  sailing  of  miniature  yachts  has  become  a  perman- 
ent amusement  of  the  summer  and  fall  seasons.  The  construc- 
tion, appointments  and  mimic  movements  of  these  little  vessels, 
attracting  a  general  interest  and  attention  approximating  that 
which  has  heretofore  been  accorded  to  watercraft  of  full  size. 

The  popular  knowledge  young  people  acquire  in  regard  to  the 
construction  and  management  of  small  boats,  superfically  regard- 
ed, seems  trivial,  but  it  is  really  of  permanent  value.  It  is  the 
best  kind  of  object  teaching,  serving  a  practical  purpose  for  future 
use,  and  it  is  indelibly  fixed  in  the  memory,  by  the  delightful  as- 
sociations that  cluster  about  it. 


4 


28 


YACHT  HOUSE. 

No  less  than  four  miniature  yacht  cluhs  exist  in  this  city, 
representing  150  of  these  little  vessels,  and  the  skill  bestowed 
upon  the  perfecting  of  their  models  and  every  detail  of  their 
outfit  lias  developed  an  enthusiasm  second  only  to  that  which 
prevails  among  the  yachtsmen  who  take  active  interest  in  the 
fashionable  clubs  whose  annual  regattas  command  such  popular 
attention.  The  rapid  growth  of  these  popular  pleasures  has 
pressed  upon  the  attention  of  the  Commissioners  the  need  of 
accommodations,  suitable  in  character  and  inexpensive  in  con- 
struction, for  their  more  perfect  enjoyment.  Upon  the  ball 
ground  it  would  be  an  obvious  convenience  to  have  erected 
a  building,  suitably  and  economically  arranged,  for  players 
and  others  to  deposit  clothing  or  other  articles,  and  a  building 
similar  in  character  near  the  lake,  where  boatmen  could  store 
their  yachts  would  seem  to  be  an  equally  legitimate  pro- 
vision. As  an  accessory  to  the  proper  enjoyment  of  these 
pastimes,  now  obtaining  such  popular  favor,  and  growing  in 
interest  every  year,  there  is  a  propriety  in  the  erection  of  these 
simple  structures  at  small  cost  that  seems  to  be  similar  to  the 
already  completed  auxiliary  accommodations  for  skaters  and 
others.  The  building  upon  the  ball  grounds  could  be  made 
to  subserve  a  double  purpose  in  affording  additional  accom- 
modations to  our  military  organizations  on  their  periodical 
visits. 

PARADE  GROUND. 

The  Parade  Ground,  presenting  almost  unrivalled  facilities 
for  military  manceuvres,  continues  to  be  a  popular  field  of  prac- 
tice with  the  National  Guard  who  esteem  its  acquisition  for 
such  purposes  most  fortunate  and  desirable. 

It  has  been  our  privilege  on  frequent  occasions  to  offer  the 
nse  of  this  ground  to  a  number  of  the  military  organizations  of 
New  York,  which,  having  no  facilities  for  field  exercises  in  that 
city,  have,  in  repeated  instances,  acknowledged  the  obligations 
to  this  county  under  which  they  rested. 

Among  the  most  recent  lawn  amusements  in  this  country  is 
archery,  and  some  effort  has  been  made  by  residents  of  this 
city  to  add  it  to  our  out-door  recreations.  During  the  past 
seasons  an  organization  was  perfected  which  made  use  of  the 
ground  assigned  to  them  by  the  Commissioners  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  later  new  organizations  were  formed.  The  accom- 
modation thus  afforded  was  very  satisfactory  to  those  who 
availed  themselves  of  it.  The  sport  possesses  many  elements 
of  popularity,  including  competitive  skill,  expertness  in  hand- 
ling the  bow  and  arrow,  and  may  be  regarded  as  a  most  favor- 
able pastime. 


29 


PICNICS. 

A  move  old-fashioned,  and  always  popular,  use  of  the  Park,  at- 
tracting by  far  the  largest  number  of  visitors  to  a  uniformity  of 
entertainment,  lias  been  the  annual  picnics  of  churches,  schools 
and  other  organizations,  and  the  universal  use  of  our  woods  in 
the  summer  season  for  private  and  family  picnics.  The  reasons 
for  this  are  very  easily  defined — there  is  a  general  harmony  be- 
tween the  informality  of  picnics  participated  in  by  the  class  of 
people  referred  to,  representing  the  best  citizenship,  present 
and  prospective,  of  the  community,  and  the  peaceful  repose  of 
Nature  in  the  beautiful  woods  situated  in  the  west  border  of  the 
Park. 

Protection  is  her<>  afforded  in  every  proper  pleasure  peculiar 
to  such  occasions  ;  children  and  adults  feel  the  full  enjoyment 
of  contrast  between  heated  homes  of  brick  and  the  narrow  con- 
tines  of  our  city  streets  and  the  cool,  invigorating  air  of  the 
fields  and  woods  of  the  Park.  There  is  no  place  in  this  vicinity 
combining  so  many  attractive  elements,  as  a  nucleus  of  enjoy- 
ment, as  the  picnic  grounds — a  fact  that  is  well  attested  by  their 
general  use  every  season  from  early  in  June  until  the  first  of 
October.  Perhaps  not  one  of  these  elements,  is  of  more  para- 
mount consideration  to  the  public  than  that  of  absolute  safety. 
An  objection  urged  with  much  force  against  picnic  excursions  to 
more1  distant  points,  is  the  peril  to  which  children  are  exposed 
to  life  and  limb,  by  cars  or  steamboats,  by  drowning,  or  climbing, 
or  other  casualty  ;  of  secondary  consideration,  some,  indeed, 
would  give  it  the  first  importance,  is  the  often  compulsory  con- 
tact with  uncongenial  and  improper  associations  or  influences, 
sometimes  seriously  marring  the  day's  pleasure.  Another  ques- 
tion, not  so  frequently  considered,  but  really  of  magnitude,  is 
the  weariness  and  fatigue  nearly  always  resulting  from  an  out- 
of-town  excursion,  and  the  entirely  unrefreshed  condition  of  the 
participator,  certainly  a  very  barren  result  when  it  is  considered 
that  thousands  of  people  do  not  have  half-a-dozen  opportunities 
a  year  for  such  recreation.  The  expense  of  these  excursions 
away  from  home  varies  of  course  with  the  individual,  but  in  any 
event  it  is  five  or  ten  fold  what  it  would  be  at  the  Park,  such 
excursions  are  subjected  to  all  the  inconvenience  of  crowds,  set 
times  for  departure  and  return,  the  uncertainties  of  the  weather, 
and  other  circumstances  too  numerous  for  enumeration. 

The  picnic  to  the  Park  is  divested  of  nearly  all  the  objections 
above  mentioned.  Every  facility  is  afforded  for  the  proper  use 
of  the  woods  themselves  and  numerous  accessory  sources  of 
enjoyment  are  very  near,  equally  safe  and  equally  harmless. 


•M) 


With  proper  police  surveillance  afforded,  no  annoyance  has 
been  permitted  nor  complained  of,  fresh  water  has  been  liberal- 
ly supplied,  swings  have  been  permanently  maintained  in  the 
woods,  and  there  has  been  an  ample  supply  of  tables  and  seats 
provided. 

During  the  past  four  or-  five  seasons,  as  the  Commissioners 
are  gratified  to  announce,  the  formal  applications  for  the  use 
of  these  grounds  have  been  gradually  increasing,  and  during 
the  past  summer  over  400  permits  were,  issued.  The  organiza- 
tions, thus  availing  themselves  of  the  use  of  these  grounds,  num- 
bered from  100  to  5,000  persons  each  and  were  hugely  com- 
posed of  children  and  young  people. 

It  is  for  the  accommodation  of  the  largely  increasing  number 
of  these  excursionists  to  this  attractive  portion  of  the  Park, 
that  the  building  elsewhere  alluded  to  was  designed. 

For  several  seasons,  the  annual  parade  of  the  Sunday-school 
children,  comprising  a  huge  proportion  of  that  class  of  our 
people,  have  assembled  on  their  parade-day  in  the  Park.  On 
one  of  these  occasions  the  assemblage  of  children  numbered 
fifteen  thousand,  and  every  year  since  has  varied  from  seven  to 
twelve  thousand.  The  exercises  have  drawn  thither  a  large 
attendance  of  visitors  which  contributed  to  make  the  anniver- 
sary one  of  the  most  imposing  gatherings  of  the  year. 

The  Park  carriage  service,  which  was  organized  a  number  of 
years  ago,  continues  to  meet  with  public  approval.  The  carriages 
starting  from  the  Plaza  entrance  at  Flatbush  and  Ninth  avenues, 
and  the  Willink  entrance,  near  City  line,  run  at  frequent  inter- 
vals throughout  the  fair  weather,  and  over  a  route  that  embraces 
the  finest  views  of  the  Park,  affording  an  agreeable  ride  at  mod- 
erate cost.  The  enhanced  attractions  of  Coney  Island,  during 
tin1  past  season,  have  materially  diminished  the  receipts  of  this 
service  as  well  as  the  patronage  of  the  restaurants  on  the  Park. 
But  these  are  embarrassments  that  time  will  probably  regulate. 

The  adaptability  of  the  Park  lake  to  skating,  ice-boat  sailing, 
&c,  suggests  on  each  recurring  season  that  ample  provisions 
should  be  made  for  the  fullest  enjoyment  of  these  pleasures. 

Equestrian  exercise  has  already  taken  a  foremost  position 
among  the  pleasures  and  attractions  of  the  Park.  In  fair 
weather,  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  both  ladies  and  gentlemen 
avail  themselves  of  our  bridle-paths  and  public  thoroughfares 
in  large  numbers.  The  healthful  pleasure  of  horseback  exer- 
cise, has  received  an  additional  impulse  of  popularity  from 
training-schools  in  this  city,  and  from  the  participation  in  it 
of  some  of  our  most  worthy  citizens.    It  is  a  recognized  accom- 


31 


plishment,  graceful  and  elevating  in  character,  and  naturally 
growing  in  public  favor.  The  Park  roadways  and  equestrian 
routes  extending  to  delightful  suburbs,  afford,  desirable  attrac- 
tions to  those  who  seek  this  mode  of  recreation. 

If  the  thoughtful  visitor  to  the  Park,  will  take  the  trouble  to 
familiarize  himself,  even  in  slight  measure,  with  all  its  accesor- 
ies  for  pleasure  and  personal  enjoyment,  he  will  be  surprised  at 
tin'  aggregate  and  the  variety  and  quality  of  tastes  which  seem 
so  easily  catered  to,  but  which  it  would  be  impossible  'to  gratify 
hut  for  the  orderly  and  systematic  supervision  maintained  in 
conjunction  with  the  good-will  and  self-respect  of  the  great 
majority  of  visitors.  The  influences  of  the  resort  are  all  peace- 
ful, healthful,  and  harmless.  There  are  harmonious  and  tem- 
perate pleasures  for  all  ages  and  conditions  of  life. 

While  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that  Brooklyn  can  afford  to  ex- 
pend the  same  amount  per  acre,  in  maintaining  the  Park,  as  is 
lavished  upon  similar  Public  Institutions  in  the  Metropolis, 
it  is  only  reasonable  for  us  to  ask  for  such  means  as  would  be 
desirable  under  careful  business  management,  to  preserve  all 
parts  of  the  Park  in  the  best  condition  for  use,  and  to  adminis- 
ter affairs  in  connection  with  them  with  such  intelligence,  and 
reasonable  liberality,  as  to  afford  to  all  classes  of  our  citizens 
each  in  the  direction  to  be  best  enjoyed  by  them,  the  ultimate 
advantages  which  works  of  this  character  so  varied  in  their 
resources  may  provide. 

KEEPER  FORCE. 

During  the  past  year,  the  Keeper  Force  has  been  serviceable 
in  the  work  of  supervising  the  several  parks  and  other  territory 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Park  Commissioners. 

The  ordinances  have  been  enforced  generally  with  little  fric- 
tion, and  good  order  lias  prevailed  ;  the  proportion  of  those  who 
visit  the  parks,  etc.,  with  bad  intent  being  small,  it  is  believed, 
and  opportunity  of  carrying  out  any  evil  purposes  is  rarely 
afforded. 

The  force  is  much  smaller  in  numbers  and  consequent  effi- 
ciency than  it  was  several  years  since,  and  the  responsibilties 
of  adjusting  it  to  the  needs  of  the  parks,  &c,  necessarily  greater. 

WATER  SERVICE. 

During  the  whole  period  in  which  our  water  service  has  been 
in  operation,  we  have  satisfactorily  realized  the  advantages 
which  were  expected  to  be  derived  from  its  establishment  on 
the  Park.    We  have  had  a  large  and  almost  unrestricted  supply, 


32 


nearly  equal  to  the  large  and  varied  requirements  of  the  Park, 
its  fountains,  drinking  hydrants,  buildings,  closets,  lake  and 
roads,  the  Ocean  Parkway  and  Concourse,  for  sprinkling  pur- 
poses, and  for  the  supply  of  the  horse  trough  and  drinking  foun- 
tains under  our  care  at  the  Island. 

In  addition  to  these  our  resources  were  such,  during  the  past 
two  seasons,  as  to  meet  an  equally  important  demand  in  the 
furnishing  of  water  to  the  principal  hotels,  at  the  Island,  by 
which  means  the  convenience  and  pleasure  of  thousands  of 
visitors  were  largely  contributed  to. 

The  facilities  thus  afforded  have  been,  without  doubt,  most 
timely,  and  one  important  purpose  served  by  the  Commis- 
sioners in  this  particular,  has  been  to  guard  the  management 
of  the  most  prominent  enterprises  on  the  Island  against  any 
criticism  or  complaint  which  the  w  ant  of  an  abundant  supply  of 
pure  water  would  have  unquestionably  given  rise  to. 

The  Park  water  supply  in  its  present  condition,  so  far  as 
the  various  hotels,  &c,  are  concerned,  is  but  a  comparatively 
temporary  expedient,  and  increase,  in  the  size  of  the  supply  pipe 
will  be  necessary  to  enable  the  Commissioners  to  deliver  an 
amount  of  water  that  .  will  be  required  within  a  year  or  two. 
ritiniatelv,  it  is  believed,  the  more  extended  resources  of  the 
city  supply  will  be  made  available  for  the  use  of  the  Island  and 
the  intervening  towns,  and  the  Parkway  line,  in  addition  to  its 
use  as  primarily  designed,  principally  for  the  maintenance  of 
the  Ocean  Parkway  and  Concourse,  may  serve  an  additional 
useful  purpose  as  a  service  pipe  for  the  property  along  the 
Parkw  ay. 


I 


33 


Th&  following  stati incut  shows  th,  work  />■  rforim  <l  lug  tin  I'ark 

pumping-engine  <ut<l  the  stated  yi(  l<l  of  the  well,  for  the  p<  riod 
extending  from  June  5,  1871,  to  December  31,  1S7(J. 


D  A  T  e  . 


No.  OF 

Gallons 

PUMl'fcD. 


21;525,504 
46,877,64  I 
lo:i.os(»,s2-l 
50,156  304; 
61,881,496  j 
49,212,372 
66,821,348 


I'Yoni.lune  5,  1.S71  toSi'ptrin 

ber  10,  1871  

September  10,  1871  ko 

Muv  L,  L872   

"    Muv  i,  1*72  toOotobei 

1,  1872  

'•     October  1,  1872  to  Muv 

1,  1873  

"    Muv  I,  1873  to  October 

1,  1873   ' 

"     October  1,  187ii  toMuv 

1,  1871  

"     Muv  1,  1S74  to  Octo- 
ber 1,  1874   

"     October  1.  Ib71  to  Mm 

1.  1875  '. 

"     Muv  1.  1*75  to  October 

1,  187")  

October  1,  1N75  toMav 

1,  1870  

Muv  l.  1876  to  October 

1,  1876  

••     Oetcber  1,  1870  to  Muv 

1,  1877   28,279,108  ) 

"     May  1,  1877  to  October 

I,  1877 
"     October  1,  1877 1 J  Muv 

1,  1878   ".  I  27,911.7."): 

"     Muv  1.  1878  to  October 

1,  1878  

"     October  1,  1878  to  Muv 

1,  187!>  I  27,357.000 

"    Muvl,  1879  toOotober 

1,  1870  

October  1.  1H79  to  De- 
cember 31,  1879   18,377,392 

Totals    


47,124,176  / 
65,367,984 ) 
38,817. 1  Hi 
48,2t'.o  872 


65,431,828 


59,763,016 


27,357,000  ) 
59,060,436 ) 


Total      In  Gallons     Duys  when 


( i  M.l.ONS 
1*  u  m  p  B  I) 
FOB  TUB 
Ykib. 


21,525,604 
140,958,468 


Water  I  -  1 

from 
city  Service 

Kuril  liar. 


L5,081,176« 
11,888 


Turk  well 

was 
not  in  use 
ach  year. 


Ill  537.NOO     2,91! I  |ii I 


1  L6.033.720 


l,119,0OS 


112. 192,100  1,101,592 


87,078,288  1,384,548 


93,710,936 


72,550 


87,075,308  2,347,224 

87,017,130  

18,377,392   


885, 107.072  24,442,396 


79 


23 


oo 


02 


19 


407 


*  Used  from  July,  180S,  to  September,  1871. 


34 


Gall. 


Y  i 


Average  yield  per  year 

Maximum  

Minimum  


yield  of  Park  Well  in  1878  

Used  by  hotels  at  Coney  Island  

"   for  sprinkling  Ocean  Parkway. 

"     "  Prospect  Park  


Gallons. 


7,766,259 
10,909,379 

(ii),0(l(),(lll(l 


Yield  of  Park  Well  in  1879  

Used  by  hotels  at  Coney  Island  

"  for  sprinkling  Ocean  Parkway 
"     "  Prospect  I'ark  


11,001,748 
11,100.(1(10 

64,915,688 


From  June  to  Oc'ober  of  each  year,  the  well  has  been  operated  twenty-four 
hours  per  day  ;  during  the  year  1878,  the  engine  was  stopped  only  four  days 
during  the  summer  months,  and  during  187!)  only  two  days.  Previous  to  1878 
no  water  was  used  below  the  King's  highway  on  the  Parkway.  The  main  to  Coney 
Island  was  laid  in  1877,  and  was  opened  for  use  early  in  1878. 


SPECIAL  WORKS. 

Of  the  special  works  which  have  been  from  time  to  time 
placed  under  charge  of  the  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners,  and 
which  have,  in  whole  or  in  part  been  carried  to  substantial 
completion,  the  most  important  was  the  Ocean  Parkway  and  the 
Concourse  at  Coney  Island,  to  which  reference  is  specially  made 
in  a  portion  of  the  following  pages.  These  special  works  are 
enumerated  as  follows  : 

Ninth  avenue  and  Fifteenth  street. 
Washington  avenue. 
Ocean  avenue. 
Coney  Island  avenue. 

In  all  cases,  the  contemplated  improvements  pertained  to 
streets  and  avenues  bordering  upon  or  contiguous  to  the  Park, 
the  work  being  provided  for  by  special  enactments  of  the  Legis- 
lature. In  view  of  the  relations  that  these  thoroughfares  were 
to  bear  to  the  Park,  it  was  quite  proper  that  the  Park  Commis- 
sioners should  largely  determine  the  character  of  the  work  to 
be  done,  as  wTell  as  to  regulate  and  establish  the  necessary 
grades.   Where  practicable  the  work  was  done  by  contract. 


NINTH  AVENUE  AND  FIFTEENTH  STREET. 

Both  of  these  thoroughfares  were  widened  during  the  early 
years  of  the  Park  work,  and  sonic  modification  of  the  grades 
were  made  by  the  Commissioners  andapproved  by  the  Common 
Council,  in  order  to  adjust  the  grades  of  certain  streets  abut- 
ting upon  the  Park  boundary.  Upon  these  works  the  Com- 
missioners expended  the  sum  of  $29,086.10.  The  indebtedness 
thus  incurred  is  provided  to  be  paid  by  the  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature, chapter  546  of  the  Laws  of  1875,  out  of  moneys  to  be 
raised  for  completing  the  improvement,  as  well  as  tin1  amount 
already  expended  by  the  Commissioners.  Until  recently, 
neither  of  these  streets  were  used  to  any  considerable  extent, 
except  1>\  two  lines  of  railroad,  which  have  seemed  to  afford  all 
the  accommodation  demanded  by  the  public. 

The  Commissioners  have  always  regarded  the  property  lying 
along  the  western  border  of  the  Park  as  valuable,  and  as  forming 
part  of  a  very  attractive  portion  of  the  city,  in  view  of  ils  prox- 
imity to  the  Park,  the  favorable  character  of  its  topography, 
and  for  its  general  eligibility.  This  in  common  with  other  neigh- 
borhoods, has  felt  tin1  effect  of  the  business  depression  which 
has  so  long  prevailed,  and  there  has  been,  naturally,  little  dis- 
position on  the  part  of  capitalists  and  others  to  improve  any 
considerable  portion  of  it.  Having  this  in  view,  the  Commis- 
sioners, under  whose  care  a  portion  of  Ninth  avenue  and 
Fifteenth  street  was  placed  by  the  Legislature,  deemed  it  un- 
wise to  enter  upon  any  scheme  of  improvement  which  must,  in 
the  nature  of  things,  be  premature  in  its  effect,  and  if  carried 
out  upon  a  scale  which  would  meet  the  approval  of  the  authori- 
ties and  of  the  Commissioners  themselves,  would  have  entailed 
upon  the  property  during  this  long  series  of  years  a  heavy 
burden.  This  view  was  adhered  to  against  the  urgent  opposi- 
tion of  some  of  the  owners  who  have  since  frankly  admitted  the 
wisdom  of  the  course  adopted  by  the  Park  Commissioners. 

Whenever  it  shall  be  deemed  a  favorable  time  to  improve 
these  streets  it  ought  to  be  done  in  a  substantial  and  satis- 
factory manner.  The  pavement  should  consist  of  one  or  the 
other  of  the  most  improved  stone  blocks,  either  of  New  Jersey 
trap-roCk  or  of  granite. 

In  advance  of  laying  down  the  superstructure,  the  necessary 
sewers  should  be  constructed  and  the  water  and  gas  pipe  put 
down,  so  that  proper  time  for  settlement  of  the  earth  in  the 
trenches  may  be  allowed  for  and  the  finishing  work  thoroughly 
done.    What  is  here  said  applies  more  particularly  to  Ninth 


5 


36 


avenue  on  the  Park  side,  but  is  quite  true  in  a  large  measure 
of  Fifteenth  street,  which  is  destined  to  become  an  important 
line  of  communication  between  the  southwestern  portion  of 
the  city  and  the  surburban  towns. 

WASHINGTON  AVENUE. 

The  act  providing  for  the  improvement  of  this  avenue  for  a 
length  of  7,1(10  feet,  contemplated  its  increase  iii  width  to  eighty 
feet,  necessitating  the  addition  of  a  strip  ten  feet  in  width  along 
the  westerly  line  of  the  street.  The  necessary  legal  proceedings 
were  entered  upon  for  the  taking  of  the  additional  land  required, 
and  upon  the  approval  of  the  report  of  the  Commissioners 
appointed  by  the  Supreme  Court,  plans  for  the  grading  and 
paving  were  prepared  and  the  work  subsequently  let  in  two 
secti<  nis. 

The  first  section  extended  from  Atlantic  avenue  to  the  city 
line,  a  distance  of  5,052 ui\>  feet,  and  upon  which  the  specifica- 
tions contemplated  the  partial  regrading  of  the  street,  made 
necessary  by  the  change  in  its  width,  and  also  to  repave,  recurb 
and  gutter  the  whole  street. 

The  Commissioners  designed  from  the  outset  to  expend  as 
little  money  as  possible  upon  the  work,  desiring  to  remit  to  the 
future,  w  hen  the  character  of  the  street  would  be  more  clearly 
defined,  the  question  of  a  more  substantial  and  costly  improve- 
ment. For  tins  reason,  the  contractor  was  permitted  to  make 
use  of  all  the  material  on  the  line  of  the  street,  including  curb 
and  gutter,  paving  stones  and  flagging  that  might  be  found 
available,  in  view  of  the  temporary  character  of  the  contempla- 
ted improvement.  Under  these  conditions  this  section  of  the 
avenue  was  let  to  and  the  work  promptly  performed  by  Mr. 
Thomas  McCann,  of  this  city,  for  the  sum  of  £2.20  per  lineal  foot. 

The  second  section,  2,0±<S  iV<>  feet  in  length,  was  made  up  of 
that  portion  of  the  avenue  lying  within  the  tow  n  of  Flatbush, 
and  was  let  to  Mr.  B.  K.  Sturges,  and  the  work  satisfactorily 
performed  within  the  prescribed  time  for  the  sum  of  $5.25  per 
lineal  foot.  This  latter  contract  included  the  furnishing  of  a 
considerable  amount  of  extraneous  material  for  filling,  together 
with  new  curb  and  gutter  and  paving  stone  for  the  entire  road- 
way. 

Washington  avenue  runs  through  an  important  section  of  the 
city  and  affords  a  direct  line  of  communication  to  the  Park  and 
to  the  town  of  Flatbush. 

There  are  no  indications  of  any  improvements  such  as  would 
have  warranted  any  large  expenditure  beyond  providing,  as  the 
Commissioners  have  already  done,  a  practicable  and  convenient 
thoroughfare. 


37 


OCEAN  AVENUE. 

During  the  latter  part  of  1875  the  opening  and  improvement 
of  this  avenue  was  agreed  upon  between  the  Park  Commission- 
ers and  the  authorities  of  the  town  of  Platbush,  and  after  the 
mecessary  legal  proceedings  had  been  successfully  accomplished, 
the  work  was  proceeded  with  under  contract  with  Mr.  William 
P.  Sturges.  Tins  avenue  forms  the  lower  portion  of  the  south- 
easterly boundary  of  the  Park,  and  extends  from  the  Willink 
entrance,  at  Platbush  avenue  and  Franklin  avenue,  in  the  town 
of  Platbush  on  the  south. 

The  plan  of  the  improvement  provided  for  a  street  100  feet 
in  width,  divided  as  follows  :  A  50  feet  roadway,  a  sidewalk  on 
the  westerly  side  of  30  feet,  and  on  the  easterly  side  of  20  feet 
in  width.  The  length  of  the  avenue  was  3,013  feet.  A  blue  stone 
curb  ami  .gutter  defines  and  limits  the  roadway  on  each  side 
and  parallel  with  the  curb,  and  extending  10  feet  in  width. 
Toward  the  centre  of  the  road  is  laid  a  strip  of  cobble-stone 
paving,  with  a  view  to  facilitate  drainage  and  protect  the  road 
on  each  side  from  the  action  of  storms,  &c.  The  remaining 
space,  of  30  feet,  forming  the  central  or  main  portion  of  the 
roadway,  is  made  up  of  tilling  of  gravel  of  the  neighborhood, 
carefully  selected,  from  which  large  stones  have  been  removed, 
and  the  whole  substantially  rolled  to  a  good  surface.  At  a  later 
period  two  rows  of  thrifty  maple  trees  were  planted  and  boxed 
on  the  sidewalk  of  this  avenue,  adjoining  the  Park. 

The  opening  and  construction  of  this  avenue  completes  the 
system  of  exterior  roadways  contemplated  in  the  original 
scheme  of  the  Park  Improvement,  but  which  in  this  instance  had 
been  deferred  and  practically  abandoned  by  the  Commission- 
ers, in  consequence  of  the  opposition  of  the  property  owners, 
the  indifference  to  the  recommendations  of  the  Commissioners 
evinced  by  the  authorities  of  the  city,  and,  to  some  extent,  the 
excessive  value  placed  upon  the  land  proposed  to  be  taken. 
Subsequently,  however,  the  co-operation  of  the  authorities  of 
the  town  of  Platbush  was  secured,  and  the  project  was  satis- 
factorily carried  out  to  completion. 

CONEY  ISLAND  AVENUE. 

This  avenue  forms  the  lower  southeasterly  boundary  of  the 
Park,  from  the  city  line  at  Fifteenth  street  and  Eleventh  avenue 
to  the  entrance  of  the  Park  at  the  junction  of  Franklin  avenge 
and  the  old  Coney  Island  road. 

Having  been  petitioned  to  do  so,  the  Park  Commissioners, 
representing  the  city,  joined  the  property  owners  along  the  line 


33 


of  the  avenue  in  an  improvement  of  a  subordinate  character, 
which,  while  involving  the  expenditure  of  a  comparatively  small 
amount  of  money  ($2,411),  has  provided  a  convenient  roadway, 
and  was  in  all  respects  satisfactory  to  the  parties  interested. 

The  work  was  let  under  contract  to  Mr.  Thomas  Glevry  for 
the  sum  of  $3.84  per  lineal  foot,  and  consisted  of  the  necessary 
grading,  together  with  a  strip  of  cobble-stone  pavement  and 
curl)  and  gutter  on  the  westerly  side  of  the  road. 

The  intervening  space  at  the  northerly  end  of  this  improve- 
ment, across  the  circle  at  Fifteenth  street  and  Eleventh  avenue, 
was  improved  at  the  expense  of  the  Commissioners  by  special 
contract  with  the  contractor  of  Coney  Island  avenue. 

EAST  SIDE  LANDS. 

For  several  years  past  public  attention  has  been  more  or  less 
directed  to  the  huge  area  of  property  belonging  to  the  city, 
under  the  control  of  the  Commissioners,  known  as  the  east  side 
lands,  and  forming  part  of  the  Park,  as  originally  taken  for 
that  purpose. 

This  area  lies  on  the  easterly  side  of  Flatbush  avenue,  and 
exclusive  of  the  Reservoir  (which  occupies  an  area  of  ll1,  acres), 
contains  121  acres,  and  is  bounded  by  Flatbush  and  Van- 
derbilt  avenues,  Warren  street  and  W  ashington  avenue,  ter- 
minating at  the  south  at  the  dividing  line  between  the  city  and 
the  town  of  Flatbush.  The  various  discussions,  both  on  the 
part  of  the  public  and  the  Commissioners,  and  the  several  legal 
processes  which  have  led  to  the  abandonment  of  these  lands  for 
Park  purposes,  have  been  made  known  from  time  to  time  in 
the  previous  reports  of  the  Commissioners,  and  in  the  daily 
papers,  and  are  measurably  familiar  to  our  citizens. 

The  scheme  considered  and  matured  by  the  Commissioners, 
and  sanctioned  by  the  highest  legal  authority  of  the  State  for 
the  sale  of  these  lands,  has,  like  most  important  contemporary 
enterprises  elsewhere,  been  arrested  and  held  in  abeyance  for 
reasons  patent  to  the  thinking  men  of  the  community,  pending 
the  remarkable  period  of  business  depression  and  stagnation 
through  which  the  country,  it  is  now  believed,  is  happily 
emerging. 

During  the  progress  of  work  upon  the  Park  in  the  early 
years  of  its  construction,  no  change  was  effected  in  the  pre- 
vailing features  of  the  east  side  property.  The  first  consider* 
able  work  consisted  in  opening  the  Eastern  Parkway,  from  the 
plaza  to  Washington  avenue,  involving  the  removal  of  231,000 
cubic  yards  of  material  above  the  established  grade.  Following 


39 


upon  the  commencement  of  this  work  in  1871,  and  its  completion 
in  1873,  further  quantities  of  material  were  removed  from  time  to 
time  from  points  where  the  same  was  in  excess,  and  was  used 
to  hll  up  the  low  grounds  within  the  boundaries  of  the  east  side 
lands,  which  work  was  done  at  prices  that  were  known  to  be  to 
the  advantage  of  the  city.  At  a  later  date  the  various  and  per- 
sistent oppositions  to  the  proposed  sale  of  a  portion  of  these 
lands  were  measurably  overcome  by  the  Commissioners,  and 
with  the  approval  of  the  public  generally,  steps  were  at  once 
taken  looking  to  the  carrying  out  of  their  plan  of  sale  ;  an  accu- 
rate survey  of  the  area  was  ordered,  which  included  the  location 
and  extension  of  the  city  streets  and  avenues  through  it,  together 
with  a  careful  study  of  grades  to  be  established  with  a' view  to 
the  most  favorable  development  of  the  property.  It  must  he 
borne  in  mind  that  any  system  of  extension  through  it  of  the 
city  streets  to  prove  of  practical  utility,  must  of  necessity  connect 
with,  and  their  grades  must  conform  to,  those  arbitrarily  estab- 
lished by  the  city  authority  upon  the  streets  and  avenues  sur- 
rounding the  Park. 

The  projection  of  Sackett  street,  otherwise  known  as  the 
Eastern  Parkway  entailed  at  once  the  necessity  for  this  co-op- 
eration of  interest.  The  grading  involved  at  the  outset 
the  extension  of  the  easterly  slope  of  the  Reservoir  as  an 
engineering  necessity,  and  after  a  conference  of  the  engi- 
neers, respectively,  of  the  Park  Commissioners  and  the  Water 
Board,  as  to  the  amount  of  additional  property  required,  pro- 
ceedings were  instituted  by  joint  co-operation  of  the  Park  Com- 
missioners and  Water  Board  to  obtain  legislative  authority  for 
the  transfer  of  the  land  required.  This  authority  having  been 
secured,  a  commission  agreed  upon  by  the  city  authorities 
and  the  Park  Commissioners,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Thomas 
Sullivan,  John  French  and  Silas  Ludlum,  was  appointed  to 
value  the  property  to  be  taken,  and  their  report  was  approved 
without  modification.  At  this  point  of  the  proceedings  it  was 
discovered  that  by  an  imperfection  in  the  law,  no  provision  had 
been  made  for  the,  transfer  of  the  money  resulting  from  the  sale 
of  the  land  from  one  department  to  the  other,  notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  the  law  originally  placed  the  absolute  control  of 
all  moneys  resulting  from  the  sale  of  any  of  the  Park  lands  in 
the  Commissioners  who  were  further  authorized  to  pay  there- 
from all  expenses  incurred  in  connection  with  the  said  hinds, 
out  of  the  first  moneys  which  should  be  received  from  their 
sale  or  any  portion  thereof. 


40 


The  failure  to  recognize,  this  right  in  this  special  act,  however, 
made  it  necessary  to  transfer  the  money  in  question  to  the 
custody  of  the  Sinking  Fund  Commissioners,  but  the  Park 
Commissioners  sought  and  obtained  relief  from  the  following 
Legislature  with  the  consent  and  co-operation  of  the  city 
authorities,  and  subsequently  obtained  the  full  amount  of  money 
in  question.  In  connection  with  the  survey  alluded  to,  with  a 
view  to  a  reasonable  development  of  the  resources  of  the  area, 
Qnderhil]  avenue,  Butler  street  and  Park  place  wi  re  opened, 
graded  and  paved  by  special  contract  and  the  preparations 
made  at  once  for  a  sale  of  a  portion  of  the  property.  Maps 
were  printed  showing  the  number  and  location  of  the  lots 
aggregating  over  1,000  in  all,  in  the  several  portions  of  the  prop- 
erty w  hich  it  was  proposed  to  sell.  The  further  preliminaries 
of  a  sale  by  public  auction  were  arranged  for  in  LS74,  and  the 
sale  itself  was  appointed  to  take  place  in  December  of  the  same 
year,  in  deference  to  what  appeared  to  be  an  expressed  public 
opinion,  but  at  a  meeting  of  the  Common  Council,  held  on  the 
l(ith  of  November,  LS74,  the  following  resolutions  were  passed, 
the  effect  of  which,  was  to  suspend  indefinitely  the  proposed 
sale. 

"Whereas,  because  of  financial  requirements  the  Board  of 
Park  Commissioners  claimed  to  be  called  upon  to  sell  at  public 
auction  the  property  belonging  to'  the  city  known  as  the  east 
side  lands  ;  and 

"Whereas,  it  is  the  opinion  of  those  most  competent  to  judge 
that  a  sale  of  said  property  in  the  present  depressed  condition 
of  the  market  for  real  estate  will  result  in  serious  loss  to  the 
city,  as  also  prove  very  injurious  to  the  interests  of  the  citizens 
holding  real  estate  for  a  market,  particularly  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  proposed  sale  ;  therefore 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Park  Commissioners  be  and  they  hereby 
are  earnestly  requested  to  postpone  the  sale  to  a  period  of  time 
which  shall  indicate  some  possibility  of  obtaining  nearer  the 
value  of  the  property  than  is  now  promised,  and  the  Mayor  and 
Comptroller  be  and  they  are  hereby  authorized  to  confer  with 
the  Board  of  Park  Commissioners,  and  tender  to  them  such 
financial  aid  as  may  be  legal  and  proper,  that  their  legal 
demands  and  the  interest  of  the  city  in  the  property  be  fully 
protected  by  securing  a  postponement  of  the  sale  to  a  more, 
promising  opportunity." 

A  small  portion  of  the  area  nearest  the  plaza  has  been  graded 
in  part,  the  removal  of  the  material  having  been  done  at  a  very 


41 


small  cost.  In  one  or  two  instances  contractors,  requiring  filling 
for  their  own  purposes  elsewhere,  have  been  permitted  to  take 
it  from  the  east  side  lands  without  cost  to  the  Park  Commis- 
sioners. No  other  moneys  have  been  expended  beyond  such  as 
was  absolutely  necessary  from  time  to  time  in  the  care  and 
supervision  of  this  area. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say,  perhaps,  that  the  Commission- 
ers realized,  and  have  always  done  so,  the  desirability  of 
promptly  disposing  of  the  considerable  portion  of  this  property 
at  fair  prices,  and  have  made  every  reasonable  effort  to  do  so, 
that  the  city  may  be  benefited  thereby  and  improvements  of  a 
character  suitable  to  the  neighborhood  encouraged  and  fos- 
tered. 

Had  the  Commissioners  been  enabled  by  the  aid  of  intelligent 
public  sentiment  to  overcome  the  captious  and  personal  opposi- 
tions to  their  scheme  in  regard  to  this  area  at  an  earlier  day,  it 
is  only  reasonable  to  infer  that  a  satisfactory  sale  would  have 
been  successfully  accomplished  previous  to  1873,  the  result  of 
which,  it  is  confidently  believed,  would  have  demonstrated  the 
practicability  and  wisdom  of  the  policy  advocated  by  the  Park 
Commissioners. 

There  is  an  indebtedness  amounting  to  $34,655.51,  which  has 
been  incurred  by  the  Park  Commissioners  from  time  to  time  for 
authorized  expenditures,  the  payment  of  which  is  provided  for 
by  law.  The  Commissioners  have  now  in  contemplation,  the  sale 
of  a,  portion  of  these  lands  at  such  favorable  time  during  the 
coming  year,  as  their  judgment  shall  approve.  The  proceeds  of 
this  sale,  together  with  the  moneys  derived  and  to  be  derived 
and  justly  due  from  the  assessment  of  the  property  surrounding 
the  Park,  which  has  been  legally  adjudged  to  have  been  bene- 
fited thereby,  will,  it  is  believed,  in  a  very  material  degree  serve 
to  reduce  the  amount  of  indebtedness  incurred  in  the  original 
construction  of  the  Park,  and  reduce  the  Park  debt,  so  called, 
to  an  amount  at  which  there  can  be  little  complaint  as  com- 
pared with  the  benefits  resulting  from  so  marked  and  consider- 
able a  public  improvement. 

The  grading  and  paving  of  Underbill  avenue,  to  the  Eastern 
Parkway  involved  the  necessity  of  lowering  and  relaying  the 
force  main  which  connects  the  pumping  engine  at  Warren  street 
with  the  high  service  reservoir  on  Prospect  Hill.  This  main 
l;ad  been  placed  within  a  few  feet  of  the  natural  surface,  doubt- 
less as  a  measure  of  economy,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  while  a 
system  of  grades  had  been  established  by  the  city  for  the  con- 
tinuation of  the  other  streets  through  the  east  side  area,  it  was 
believed  notwithstanding  the  alteration  of  the  grade  of  Platbush 


42 


avenue,  thai  tin'  necessity  lor  the  linger  expenditure  required 
fo  place  the  pipe  below  the  grades  of  the  street,  to  which  the 
ordinances  required  them  to  he  ultimately  regulated,  were  so 
remote  as  to  justify,  as  an  engineering  expedient,  the  placing  of 
the  pipe  as  above  described.  The  Park  Commissioners  hold 
that  the  expenses  involved  in  lowering  and  relaying  this  pipe  so 
as  to  conform  to  a  system  of  grades  established  by  the  city,  and 
over  w  hich  the  Park  Commissioners  exercised  no  control,  and 
to  which  the  grade  of  the  Parkway  itself  was  required  in  effect 
to  conform,  was  properly  chargeable  upon  the  city,  and  the 
whole  work  should  have  been  done  by  and  at  the  expense  of  the 
Board  of  City  Works.  A  difference  of  opinion  as  to  which  De- 
partment should  bear  the  expense  of  this  work  has  led  to  a 
postponement  of  any  consideration  of  the  question  of  its  settle- 
ment. The  Commissioners,  having  been  under  the  necessity 
of  completing  the  street  openings  upon  which  improvements 
under  contract  were  in  progress,  assumed  the  burden  of  this 
expenditure  under  protest,  and  the  work,  which  was  clearly  a 
general  public  benefit  and  of  no  immediate  concern  to  the  Pari 
or  the  east  side  lands,  was  satisfactorily  completed.  The  Park 
Commissioners  are  prepared  at  any  time  to  enter  upon  an  ad- 
justment of  the  amount  involved  in  this  expenditure,  which 
they  feel  they  were,  by  the  exigencies  of  the  case,  forced  to 
assume  unjustly. 

EASTERN  PARKWAY. 

This  important  work  was  commenced  in  1ST  1  and  completed 
in  1874.  The  description  of  the  plan,  together  with  details  of 
construction,  are  to  be  found  in  previous  reports  of  this  com- 
mission. In  the  earlier  history  of  the  work,  through  defects  in 
the  law  or  ambiguity  hi  its  interpretation  as  to  the  manner  of 
raising  money  for  its  construction,  the  work  suffered  from  a 
considerable  delay,  the  burden  of  which  fell  largely  upon  the 
contractor,  Mr.  Thomas  McCann,  who  was  forced  to  assume 
large  financial  responsibilities  for  a  considerable  period  with- 
out aid  from  the  city.  The  modification  of  the  law  and  the 
correction  of  the  defects  alluded  to  were  accomplished  by  the 
aid  of  the  Legislature,  and  no  trouble  was  encountered  in  the 
further  progress  of  the  w  ork. 

The  design,  involving  a  large  outlay  of  money,  contemplated 
a  central  drive  and  a  traffic  road  on  each  side,  together  with 
attendant  promenade  and  ordinary  sidewalks.  The  line  of  the 
improvement  was  projected  through  a  territory  marked  in  its 
topography,  and  material  changes  of  the  surface  involved  the 


43 


removal  of  large  Quantities  of  material,  which,  however,  was 
made  of  substantial  use  for  tilling,  upon  adjacent  property  below 
the  established  grade.  The  very  extensive  area  of  property  in- 
tended to  be  benefited  by  the  construction  of  this  road,  was 
owned  in  large  parcels  by  a  few  gentlemen  who  were  principally 
instrumental  in  procuring  the  enactment  of  the  law  which 
placed  this  work,  without  solicitation  or  desire  on  their  part, 
under  the  charge  of  the  Park  Commissioners,  and  they  other- 
wise cleared  the  way  for  an  early  completion  of  the  work  which 
it  was  agreed  should  be  prosecuted  at  the  expense  of  the 
property  benefited.  Had  the  reasonable  expectations  with 
regard  to  the  effect  of  this  improvement  upon  the  property, 
been  realized,  there  can  be  little  doubt  as  to  the  successful  dis- 
position of  the  adjacent  property  thus  benefited,  but  it  will  be 
remembered  that  the  business  depression,  elsewhere  alluded 
to,  followed  closely  upon  the  completion  of  this  work,  and  its 
effect  upon  the  sales  of  real  estate  was  immediate,  and  from 
winch  this,  as  well  as  other  desirable  property,  suffered  such 
serious  effects.  Business  in  this  class  of  speculation  and 
investment  was  everywhere  affected  in  like  manner,  and  no 
foresight  was  able  to  avert  its  disastrous  consequences. 

Neither  the  city  nor  the  Park  Commissioners  are  in  any  way 
responsible  for  the  change  to  which  all  property  will  be  required 
to  adapt  itself,  and  while  the  era  of  bold  real  estate  enterprises, 
lavish  and  sometimes  wasteful  expenditures,  has  properly 
passed  away,  there  is  still  an  ample  field  for  the  exercise  of 
legitimate  undertakings,  among  which  the  improvement  and 
sale  of  property  may  be  properly  classed. 

It  by  no  means  follows,  however,  that  this  property  will  not 
ultimately  bring  substantial  reward  to  its  owners;  on  the  con- 
trary, the  Commissioners  believe  that  it  will  derive  greater  ad- 
vantages proportionately  from  the  improvements  already  made, 
exceptional  in  character,  than  would  have  been  likely  to  follow 
the  otherwise  slow  and  characterless  development  of  so  isolated 
and  apparently  unattractive  a  territory. 

At  present  the  Eastern  Parkway  is  a  well-used  thoroughfare, 
and  affords  a  convenient  line  of  communication  with  the 
business  portion  of  the  city  for  a  large  and  important  section  of 
the  community.  In  conjunction  with  Bedford  avenue,  which  is 
one  of  the  most  conspicuous  and  direct  lines  of  travel  with  the 
Eastern  District,  the  Parkway  affords  a  substantial,  pleasant 
and  commodious  exit  for  business  traffic  and  pleasure  riding  ; 
the  facility  afforded  for  reaching  the  Park  and  the  principal 
roadways  to  Coney  Island  forms  no  inconsiderable  claim  among 
the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  it. 

6 


44 


As  with  other  works  under  the  charge  of  the  Commissioners, 
the  provisions  for  its  care  and  preservation  arc  not  sncli  as  a 
work  of  this  character  and  magnitude  require,  nor  is  it  in  the 
interest  of  the  property  or  the  city  to  continue  to  permit  the 
excessive  deterioration  to  which  it  is  necessarily  subjected,  in 
consequence  of  the  limited  appropriations  placed  at  the  dispo- 
sal of  the  Commissioners. 

THE  OCEAN  PARKWAY  AND  CONEY  ISLAND. 

The  initiation  of  this  work  and  its  relations  to  the  Park, 
together  with  an  account  of  its  construction  so  far  as  the  King's 
Highway,  a  distance  of  three  and  one-quarter  miles  from  the 
easterly  entrance  of  the  Park,  have  been  very  fully  described  in 
previous  reports.  The  project  of  constructing  abroad  highway 
trom  Brooklyn  to  Coney  Island  had  been  discussed  and  ap- 
proved by  the  Park  Commissioners  as  early  as  1867,  and  it  re- 
ceived the  sanction  of  the  Legislature  shortly  after.  Plans 
were  prepared  and  the  necessary  Legal  steps  were  taken  to  ac- 
quire possession  of  the  land,  and  the  work  w  as  completed  to 
King's  Highway  in  the  autumn  of  1873. 

The  Commissioners  found  themselves  surrounded  with  many 
embarrassments,  in  thus  early  forecasting  the  possibility  and 
desirability,  if  not  the  need  of  suburban  drives,  which,  begin- 
ning at  the  Park  and  terminating  at  the  ocean,  would  present  a 
thoroughfare  of  rare  attractions.  While  the  hist  section  of  the 
road  was  being  constructed,  property  owners  and  many  conser- 
vative, right-minded  citizens  as  well,  expressed  grave  doubts  as 
to  there  being  any  justification  for  it,  they  questioned  the  utility 
of  the  work  and  urged,  if  persisted  in  with  earnestness,  that  it 
must  be  finished  with  the  most  economical  expenditure.  These 
influences  to  some  extent  determined  the  general  quality  and 
character  of  the  improvement.  So  fitful  and  uncertain  was  the 
travel  and  traffic  with  the  county  towns,  and  so  little  were  the 
suburban  district  and  ocean  views  valued  for  their  attractions, 
by  the  larger  part  of  the  community,  that  the  construction  of 
this  road  was  opposed  as  unnecessary.  At  a  later  period  public 
opinion  had  taken  definite  shape  in  its  favor,  but  the  local  oppo- 
sition and  prejudice  were  such  that  it  required  the  exercise  of 
great  caution  and  judgment  on  the  part  of  the  Commissioners, 
to  secure  the  just  recognition  and  success  of  the  work  then 
completed. 

As  an  instance  in  point  it  may  be  stated  that  the  plan  of  the 
improvement  was  materially  modified  and  cheapened  in  defer- 
ence to  the  desires  of  the  property  owners,  who  insisted  that 


45 


the  distance  from  the  Park  to  their  property  over  the  contem- 
plated route  was  so  great  ;is  to  practically  debar  them  from 
participation  in  any  accruing  benefits.  Another  obstacle  to  the 
extension  of  the  road  was  met  in  the  Prospect  Park  Fair 
Grounds  Association,  through  whose  property  the  proposed 
route  lav.  To  meet  these  opposing  elements  the  Commission- 
ers found  it  desirable  to  determine  upon  a  temporary  completion 
to  tli is  point,  until  time  should  justify  the  wisdom  of  their 
further  plans.  On  opening  this  Drive,  its  use  by  the  public  be- 
came general,  and  its  value  and  desirability  were  at  once 
acknowledged.  The  result  further  secured  was  the  withdrawal 
of  local  opposition,  the  co-operation  of  those  who  had  been 
arrayed  against  it,  and  the  securing  of  legislation  necessary  to 
the  extension  of  the  road  to  the  ocean,  in  the  years  1874-5. 
Title  to  the  land  was  acquired,  and  the  work  was  extended  upon 
the  same  general  plan  as  that  already  completed.  The  lower 
portion  of  this  work,  comprising  a  distance  of  two  and  one- 
quarter  miles,  was  put  under  contract  to  Messrs.  Curtin  & 
O'Brien,  the  lowest  bidders,  of  this  city,  at  a  cost  of  ^.").!)")  per 
lineal  foot,  which  price  comprehended  the  entire  filling,  grading, 
paving,  surfacing,  and  planting  of  trees  essential  to  a  completion 
of  the  improvement.  The  work  was  finished  in  the  month  of 
November,  1876,  and  was  at  once  tin-own  open  to  the  public,  by 
whom  it  was  quickly  appreciated  and  utilized  as  a  delightful, 
convenient  and  substantial  thoroughfare  to  the  ocean. 

The  construction  of  this  second  section  of  this  work,  the 
results  of  which  have  contributed  so  much  toward  attracting 
attention  to  the  great  availability  of  Coney  Island  as  a  popular 
seaside  resort,  followed  immediately  on  the  confirmation  of  the 
report  of  the  Commissioners  of  Estimate  and  Assessment, 
approved  by  the  Supreme  Court.  The  general  plan  of  the 
work  corresponded  with  that  of  the  first  section  and  comprised 
a  central  roadway  of  70  feet  in  width,  and  bordering  upon 
it  on  either  side  a  promenade  or  broad  walk  30  feet  in  width. 
An  additional  roadway  '25  feet  wide  for  business  purposes 
was  placed  on  the  side  of  the  main  sidewalk,  and  a  walk 
15  feet  in  width  was  additionally  provided  for  next  to  the 
building  line.  This  line,  by  legal  restriction,  is  confined  to 
within  and  beyohd  •'!<)  feet  of  the  extreme  limit  of  the  improve- 
ment, which  is  '210  feet  wide.  The  mode  of  construction  is  very 
simple,  the  material  of  the  grading  was  principally  found  upon 
the  line  of  the  work,  and  consisted  of  light  loam  and  gravel 
peculiar  to  this  portion  of  the  island.  With  proper  preparation 
and  care  it  makes  an  admirable  road  for  pleasure  driving. 
The  bed  of  the  principal  roadway  to  the  depth  of  12  inches,  is 


4(5 


(•(imposed  of  selected  gravel  from  which  all  stones  of  large  size 
wen-  excluded.  The  surface  was  carefully  shaped  and  rolled 
until  a  proper  bond  was  secured.  The  side  roads,  after  being 
properly  graded,  were  covered  with  six  inches  of  gravel.  The 
sidewalks,  including  the  promenade  or  central  walks,  were 
graded  and  covered  with  six  inches  of  soil,  upon  which  grass- 
seed  was  sown  with  a  view  of  seem  ing  a  tough  sod  ;  six  rows  of 
trees,  consisting  of  elms  and  maples  of  approved  varieties  for 
the  principal  portions  of  the  road,  and  the  golden  widow  for 
that  portion  more  directly  affected  by  the  salt  air,  were  planted 
the  whole  length  of  the  roadway.  Nothing  of  an  exceptional 
character  in  construction  was  encountered  in  the  progress  of 
the  work  except  in  connection  with  the  crossings  of  two 
marshes,  originally  formed  by  the  action  of  the  sea,  one  1,000 
feet  and  the  other  1,200  feet  long,  the  latter  divided  by  Coney 
Island  creek,  an  arm  or  inlet  of  the  sea,  the  existence  of 
which  creek  gives  distinction  to  Coney  Island  as  an  island. 

On  Coney  Island,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  piece  of  up- 
land, which,  without  doubt,  was  originally  the  end  of  the  main 
peninsula,  the  roadway  passed  over  the  white  sand  formation 
peculiar  to  this  portion  of  the  coast.  The  entire  length  of 
the  improvement,  from  the  King's  Highway  la  roadway  built  by 
the  English  in  the  10th  century),  and  extending  across  the  land 
from  Gravesend  Bay  to  the  northerly  line  of  the  Concourse 
Drive,  is  11,814  feet ;  while  that  of  the  upper  portion,  finished  in 
1873,  is  16,838  feet  making  a  total  length  from  the  southwesterly 
entrance  of  the  Park  at  the  junction  of  the  old  Coney  Island 
road  and  Franklin  avenue,  in  the  town  of  Flatbush  to  the  Con- 
course, of  28,697  feet,  which  is  (5^)  miles  nearly. 

The  work  involved  the  moving  of  nearly  22,500  cubic  yards  of 
material,  about  10,000  square  yards  of  rough  cobblestone 
paving,  and  the  planting  of  3,000  trees,  together  with  such  other 
details  of  work  as  are  incidental  to  road  building  of  this  char- 
acter. .Messrs.  O'Brien  &  Curtin,  the  contractors,  also  con- 
structed a  bridge  which  carries  the  roadway  over  Coney  Island 
creek,  at  a  cost  of  about  £3,000.  No  material,  trouble  was  ex- 
perienced in  crossing  the  marshes  referred  to  beyond  that  of 
providing  for  slight  uniform  settlement  incidental  to  the  shrink- 
age of  such  material,  w  hich  settlement  is  likely  to  leave  some 
depression  in  the  surface  to  be  repaired  by  some  additional 
rilling  from  time  to  time.  This  bridge  is  40  feet  wide,  and  two 
spans,  of  20  feet  each,  carry  over  the  central  driveway,  and  two 
sidewalks,  10  feet  in  width,  making  a  total  length  of  00  feet. 
The  elevation  of  the  floor  of  the  bridge  is  five  feet  above  mean 
high  tide,  each  bent  consists  of  spruce  jjiles  placed  rive  feet 


47 


from  the  centres,  twelve  inches  in  diameter  at  the  head,  and 
driven  to  the  ultimate  resistance.  The  piles  were  capped  by 
white  pine  timber  twelve  inches  square,  morticed  to  the  piles 
and  secured  by  locust  pins.  Floor  beams,  4x12  inches,  of 
white  pine,  were  placed  two  feet  between  centres,  upon  which  a 
looring  of  three-inch  yellow  pine  plank  was  laid.  A  handrail 
on  each  side  of  the  roadway  separates  it  from  the  sidewalk. 
The  end  bents  were  sheeted  to  the  bottom  of  the  creek  with 
three-inch  yellow  pine  plank,  against  which  the  rilling  at  the  end 
of  the  bridge  rested.  On  the  preliminary  survey,  the  formation 
of  the  mud  and  vegetable  growth,  of  which  the  marsh  is  com- 
posed, was  found  to  be  very  irregular  in  depth,  in  some 
instances  reaching  14  feet,  and  with  a  mean  depth  of  6  feet, 
material  settlements  were  apprehended  and  occurred  at  several 
points  during  the  construction  ;  but  over  the  principal  portion 
of  this  part  of  the  work  the  settlement  was  but  slightly  in  excess 
of  that  which  attends  ordinary  filling  for  the  same  depth.  This 
was  due  to  two  causes,  the  chief  one  being  that  the  grade  of  the 
road  at  this  point  was  arranged  to  meet  the  necessities  only  of 
the  minimum  till  of  4  feet,  which  it  was  assumed,  the  tough 
marsh  sod  would  be  able  to  bear  or  float  upon  its  surface.  The 
work  was  begun  in  the  latter  part  of  April,  and  was  substan- 
tially completed  and  open  to  public  use  in  November  of  the 
same  year.  It  has  become  the  principal  line  of  communication 
for  the  large  and  growing  number  of  those  who  seek  pleasure 
and  amusement  out  doors,  who  ride  in  carriages  to  the  sea- 
shore. 

An  act  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  187(>  and  1877  authorized 
the  Commissioners  to  appropriate  the  premium  resulting  from 
the  sale  of  county  bonds,  which  had  been  withheld  by 
the  County  Treasurer,  to  the  extent  of  $17,070.5)0,  for  the  fur- 
ther purpose  of  extending  the  water  supply  along  the  line  of 
the  Ocean  Parkway  to  Coney  Island.  The  necessary  plans  and 
specifications  having  been  agreed  upon,  the  contract,  after 
proper  competition,  was  awarded  to  Messrs.  O'Brien  &  Curtin, 
the  lowest  bidders,  at  53  cents  per  lineal  foot  ;  the  contract  in- 
volved the  laying  of  a  four-inch  cast  iron  pipe  from  the  end  of 
the  pipe  laid  in  1873,  to  the  Concourse  at  Coney  Island,  with 
extensions  east  and  west  to  the  extreme  limit  of  the  county 
property.  It  also  included  the  furnishing  of  a  Beton  Coignet 
water-trough  for  horses,  with  suitable  connections,  two  or- 
namental drinking  hydrants  located  at  the  shelters,  together 
with  the  necessary  hydrants,  stop-cocks,  Ac,  along  the  line  of 
the  Parkway  and  the  Concourse. 


48 


The  extreme  length  of  the  line  was  1  *>,*»;"** )  lineal  feet.  To  test 
an  invention  which  was  recommended  by  engineers  and  others, 
a  line,  (iOO  feet  in  length,  of  six-inch  wood  and  asphalt  pipe  was 
laid  down,  as  an  experiment,  by  the  Asphalted  Tube  Works  of 
New  York  city.  The  invention  consisted  of  a  series  of  layers 
of  wood  veneers  wound  round  a  central  core,  with  a  course  of 
asphalt  running  between  each  layer.  By  experiments  made  at 
the  shops  of  the  company  at  Harlem,  N.  V.,  a  piece  of  pipe,  com- 
posed of  five  Layers  of  wood,  had  under  several  trials,  exhibited 
successfully,  a  pressure  of  five  hundred  pounds  to  the  square 
inch.  The  pipe  was  laid  down  and  was  made  use  of  during  the 
fall  of  1877,  as  a  connecting  link  between  the  old  six-inch  cast- 
iron  pipe  and  the  four-inch  cast-iron  extension.  It  shortly  gave 
indications  of  failure,  many  lengths  soon  breaking,  one  after 
another,  thus  interfering  with  the  continuous  delivery  of  water 
to  the  island.  The  interest  and  faith  in  the  serviceahleness  of 
the  pipe,  was  such  on  the  part  of  the  proprietors,  that  they 
asked  and  obtained  permission  to  substitute  a  pipe  of  greater 
strength,  viz.,  of  eight  layers  of  veneer.  The  work  was  done 
promptly  and  the  water  turned  on  the  line  October  3,  1877. 
For  a  time  no  evidence  of  weakness  was  exhibited  on  the  wooden 
pipe  until  the  early  fall,  when  the  pipe  ultimately  failed.  The 
experiment  was  abandoned,  and  the  pipe  replaced  by  cast  iron. 
Tne  experiment  was  an  interesting  one,  but  the  failure  may  be 
attributed  mainly  to  the  water  ram  on  the  line  of  pipe  due  to  the 
frequent  opening  and  closing  of  the  hydrants,  the  limited  num- 
ber of  which  was  not  sufficient  to  relieve  the  pressure  of  these 
blows,  and  to  the  fact,  probably,  that  it  was  difficult  to  secure 
uniformity  of  strength  and  perfectness  of  material  in  all  the 
pipe.  The  veneers  used  were  of  maple,  carefully  selected,  free 
from  knots  or  other  defects,  and  cut  with  uniform  nicety  by 
machinery  from  the  round  of  the  tree.  The  shaping  of  the 
pipe  was  also  effected  by  machinery,  the  asphalt  was  of  the 
best  quality,  and  great  care  was  taken  by  the  parties  interested 
to  insure  success.  Samples  of  the  veneers  were  tested  by  tensile 
strains  of  100  pounds  to  the  square  inch,  thus  far  giving  evidence 
of  strength  in  the  structure  of  the  pipe.  For  light  pressures 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  pipe  is  deserving  of  careful 
consideration  and  trial,  if  the  cost  of  supplying  it  can  be  brought 
within  the  limit  of  successful  competition  with  other  water 

As  a  fitting  termination  to  this  improvement,  the  Commis- 
sioners, in  behalf  of  Kings  county,  obtained  possession  of  about 
seventy  acres  of  that  portion  of  the  Island,  at  the  end  of  the  Ocean 
Parkway,  with  a  frontage  of  2,750  feet,  extending  along  and  in- 


49 


eluding  the  most  desirable  portion  of  the  beach,  with  an  average 
depth  of  1,000  feet  from  high  water  mark.  The  Parkway  exten- 
sion intersects  this  property  1,250  feet  east  of  its  westerly 
boundary,  the  extreme  easterly  boundary  being  l,f>00  feet  from 
the  same  point.  W  ithin  this  area,  a  series  of  hills,  or  dunes, 
formed  by  the  erratic  accumulations  of  sand,  were  found,  some 
of  them  being  from  5  to  12  feet  above  high  tide.  A  line  or 
range  of  these  hills,  generally  distant  about  450  feet  from  the 
beach,  as  before  noted,  was  selected  for  the  site  of  a  so-called 
beach  Concourse,  or  Ocean  Promenade,  for  visitors  in  carriages 
and  on  foot. 

The  plan  of  the  work  contemplated  the  construction  of  an 
embankment  of  sand  of  sufficient  w  idth  to  afford  a  base  for  an 
ample  roadway  for  driving,  and  accommodation  for  pedes- 
trians as  well.  The  details  of  construction  may  be  briefly 
described  as  follows :  The  cross  section  of  the  embankment 
necessitated  a  width  of  about  135  feet  in  the  aggregate.  The 
sand  was  deposited  on  the  line  selected,  to  a  height  of  5,';,  feet 
above  high  water  mark  on  the  front  line,  and  6  feet  on  the  rear, 
and  involved  the  removal  of  about  30,000  cubic  yards  of  sand, 
which  was  obtained  entirely  from  the  area  owned  by  the  county. 
The  material  was  carefully  graded  and  faced  by  a  slope  toward 
the  ocean  of  3  to  1.  Upon  this  slope,  and  upon  the  upper  sur- 
face of  the  entire  length  of  the  Concourse  for  a  width  of  100 
feet,  a  covering  of  bituminous  concrete  pavement  was  laid.  The 
material  on  the  slopes  was  carried  down  to  low  water  mark. 
It  is  of  uniform  thickness  (3  inches)  and  was  composed  of  equal 
quantities  of  selected  gravel  and  beach  sand  carefully  dried  in 
heated  cylinders  and  mixed  in  due  proportion  with  refined  coal 
tar  and  asphalt,  carefully  prepared  by  the  contractors,  the 
Abbot  Pavement  Company  of  Brooklyn. 

All  the  work  of  preparation  was  carefully  done,  the  whole 
satisfactorily  completed  and  accepted  early  in  September,  1870. 
This  work  was  designed  not  only  to  serve  the  purposes  of  a 
pleasant  promenade  drive,  but  also  for  use  as  a  breakwater  and 
a  substantial  barrier  to  the  encroachments  o£  the  sea,  which, 
unopposed,  had  often  threatened  the  destruction  of  a  portion  of 
the  Island  and  previously  jeopardized  the  buildings  and  struc- 
tures already  erected,  and  had  often  occasioned  considerable 
damage  to  the  w  ork  of  enterprising  lessees. 

In  1876  two  open  shelters  constructed  of  wood,  upon  a  pile 
foundation,  were  placed  upon  the  Concourse  at  the  junction 
of  the  Parkw  ay,  for  the  convenience  of  visitors.  These  structures 
were  built  by  contract  with  Mr.  Van  Kiper  of  Brooklyn,  were 
open  on  all  sides,  and  with  convenient  entrances  on  the  front 


50 


and  rear.  An  overhanging  roof  affords  protection  from  storm 
and  the  heat  of  the  sun.  They  cover  each  an  area  of  75  feet 
by  '25,  and,  being  amply  provided  with  seats  and  tables,  are 
much  used  throughout  the  season  by  visitors  to  the  Island. 

In  the  summer  of  1S7H  an  arrangement  was  made  with  the 
Kings  county  Gaslight  Company  to  light  the  Concourse  with 
gas.  Pipes  were  laid  down  and  a  sufficient  number  of  posts  and 
lamps  were  put  up  to  secure  the  necessary  illumination  of  the 
walks  and  drive  dining  the  season  of  L878  and  1S7'.I. 

The  following  is  a  sketch  of  what  is  known  of  the  earlier 
physical  features,  configuration  and  history  of  Coney  Island, 
and  may  prove  not  uninteresting.  In  the  original  patent  grant- 
ed to  Guisbert  Op-Dyck  for  Coney  Island,  it  is  called  Cunnv 
Island,  and  by  the  Dutch,  Coneynen  Eylandt,  from  the  name,  it 
is  conjectured,  of  an  individual  who  had  possessed  a  part  of  it. 
Pine  Island,  then  called  Conyne  Hook,  was  at  that  time  sepa- 
rated from  the  former  by  a  creek,  which  has  since  disappeared. 

The  entire  Island,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  border  of  up- 
land and  marsh,  is  composed  of  pure  white  sand  which,  satu- 
rated at  tin1  level  of  high  tide,  presents  the  distinctive  charac- 
teristics of  the  sea-beach,  so  familiar  to  our  people.  Above  the 
level  of  high  water,  eccentric  formations  of  sand,  presenting 
almost  every  imaginable  form  to  be  assumed  by  such  material, 
whose  location  and  permanency  vary  with  every  changing  wind 
and  storm,  were  found.  At  various  points  these  formations 
clustered  about  the  hardy  and  scant  vegetation,  principally 
beach  grass,  red  cedar  and  native  laurel,  peculiar  to  the  Island. 

The  presence  of  a  comparatively  rich  soil  on  portions  of  the 
Island  is  doubtless  due  to  the  upheavals  and  accretions  of  rich 
deposits  of  mud  from  the  bed  of  the  ocean.  To  this  has  been 
added  the  decomposed  vegetation  which  at  an  earlier  period 
resulted  from  a  more  considerable  vegetable  growth  than  now 
exists.  This,  as  well  as  the  soil  of  the  contiguous  main  land,  bears 
to-day  some  of  the  characteristics  of  the  soil  of  the  prairie,  to 
which  it  assimilates  somewhat  in  its  formation  and,  like  some 
portions  of  the  prairie  which  have  been  burned  over  at  certain 
periods,  it  owes  its  appearance  to  a  like  cause.  A  portion  of 
the  Canarsee  Indians  (which  tribe  claimed  at  one  time  the  whole 
of  the  lands  now  included  within  the  limits  of  Kings  county) 
left  interesting  relics  on  the  main  land,  near  the  southerly  part 
of  the  Island,  in  the  shape  of  immense  piles  of  shells.  They 
were  very  fond  of  shell-fish,  and  these  shell  banks,  formed  evi- 
dently with  some  plan,  have  been  found  elsewhere  on  Long 
Island.    Many  years  since,  in  initiating  the  work  of  construction 


51 


of  the  shell  road  on  the  lower  end  of  the  village  of  Gravesend, 
a  road  well  known  to  the  old  residents  of  Brooklyn,  these  shell 
banks  were  discovered  and  the  shells  were  used  in  surfacing  this 
road,  for  which  they  answered  an  admirable  purpose. 

Two  well  defined  lines  of  hills  extending  the  full  length  of  the 
Island  and  running  parallel  with  the  ocean,  the  line  of  whose 
domain  has  remained  substantially  unchanged  for  many  years, 
are  now  fast  disappearing  before  the  improvement  of  roadways 
and  buildings,  and  works  effected  in  the  neighborhood. 

The  old  records  of  the  town  of  Gravesend  mention  the  fact 
that  what  is  now  known  as  Coney  Island  formerly  consisted  of 
three  smaller  islands,  the  easterly  one  being  known  as  Sedge 
Bank  Island  ;  another  as  Guisbert's  or  Will  Johnson's  Island, 
and  the  third  as  Piney  Island.  Will  Johnsons  Island  was  an 
area,  which  now  forms  the  central  or  main  part  of  the  Island, 
from  the  line  of  the  old  Coney  Island  road,  westerley  to  Van 
Sicklen's  hotel,  and  Piney  Island  lay  west  of  a  line  from  Van 
Sicklen's  hotel  to  Feltman's  hotel,  at  which  point  at  an  earlier 
day  the  surface  was  sufficiently  depressed  to  form  an  inlet,  and 
was  locally  known  as  Piney  inlet.  It  is  recorded  that  certain 
accounts  of  money  was  received  by  the  town  of  Gravesend  for 
permits  or  licenses  to  cut  cedar  trees,  which  at  that  period,  it  is 
said,  attained  a  growth  sufficiently  large  in  that  neighborhood 
to  be  used  in  the  construction  of  small  sailing  vessels.  It  is 
further  shown  that  permits  were  granted  for  pasturing  cattle, 
thus  indicating  a  sufficient  growth  of  vegetation  to  induce 
farmers  to  drive  their  cattle  thither  in  the  spring,  where  they 
were  permitted  to  remain  during  the  summer  and  early  fall. 

The  fishermen  who  at  that  time,  pursued  that  exclusive  occu- 
pation in  this  vicinity  in  greater  numbers  than  now,  united  to 
defray  the  necessary  expense  of  opening  an  inlet  from  a  point 
near  the  site  of  Van  Sicklen's  hotel  to  Gravesend  Bay,  in  order 
to  avoid  the  longer  and  more  boisterous  passage  along  the 
coast,  from  Piney  inlet  to  the  point.  The  effect  of  this  enter- 
prise was  to  shoal  Piney  inlet  and  finally  close  it  up  altogether. 
Its  general  course  could  until  quite  recently,  be  traced  by  its 
well  defined  line  and  depressed  surface.  A  part  of  the  inlet 
separating  Guisbert's  Island  from  the  Sedge  Bank  still  exists, 
and  is  known  as  Sandy  Creek.  Its  outlet,  however,  has  been  en- 
tirely closed  up  by  the  comparatively  recent  formation  of  sand 
hills  near  Engeman's  hotel. 

Of  the  many  accounts  which  have  been  given  of  the  wonderful 
changes  that  have  taken  place  on  the  Island  and  its  coast, 
the  following  extracts  will  be  read  with  interest  :  "  The  more  " 
"  extensive  and  extraordinary  marine  encroachments  have  been  " 

7 


52 


"and  arc  now  in  continual  operation  upon  the  south  shore  of" 
"the  Island,  the  materials  of  which  it  is  generally  constructed" 
"being  incapable  of  opposing  any  considerable  barrier  to  the" 
"violence  of  winds  and  waves,  especially  during  the  existence" 
"of  heavy  storms,  driving  with  inconceivable  force  and  aug- " 
"  mented  energy  against  the  soft  and  yielding  substance  of" 
"  the  headland  and  beaches.  Its  effect  and  ravages  are  per- " 
"  ceptible  to  the  most  common  observation  from  one  end  of  the  " 
"  Island  to  the  other;  yet  probably  in  no  one  place  so  pal-" 
"pable  as  about  Gravesend,  and  particularly  in  the  neighbor-" 
"hood  of  Coney  Island.  Mr.  John  Van  Dvck  recollects  when" 
"the  beach  at  Coney  Island  was  composed  of  high  and  exten-" 
"  she  sand  hills,  where  it  is  now  a  Hat  and  level  beach,  some-" 
"  times  covered  by  the  tides  ;  and  he  has  cut  gl  ass  upon  a  part  " 
"of  the  beach  which  is  now  a  flat  and  level  beach,  sometimes" 
"  covered  by  the  tides ;  and  he  has  cut  grass  upon  a  part  of" 
"  the  beach  w  Inch  is  now  at  a  considerable  distance  ill  the  sea.  " 
"At  other  places  where  the  water  was  of  sufficient  depth  to " 
"float  vessels  of  50  tons,  it  is  now  solid  ground.  In  IH'.M,  over" 
"forty  years  ago,  Mr.  Court  Lake,  of  the  same  place,  aged  7'.)," 
"  states  that  his  grandfather,  about  11(1  years  ago,  cut  a  quantity  " 
"of  cedar  posts  upon  a  part  of  Coney  Island  which  is  now  two" 
"  miles  from  the  ocean  ;  and  that  he  has  himself  cut  firewood" 
"at  a  place  now  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  shore.  There  was" 
"also  a  house  upon  Pine  Island  owned  by  one  Brown,  the  site" 
"of  which  is  now  a  great  way  at  sea  ;  and  that  Plumb  Island" 
"  was  once  covered  by  fine  timber,  where  there  is  none  now," 
"  the  greatest  [tart  of  the  land  having  washed  away." 

Several  old  maps,  more  or  less  comprehensive  of  Coney 
Island,  are  extant ;  the  result  of  careful  surveys,  by  reliable  sur- 
veyors. One  of  these  was  made  by  John  Terhune,  who  was  born 
in  1700  and  died  in  LSl'2.  He  was  a  resident  of  Gravesend,  and 
for  many  years  represented  that  town  as  a  Supervisor. 

Somewhere  about  1800-10,  a  map  of  Gravesend,  including 
Coney  Island,  wTas  made  by  him  for  a  town  survey  for  the  State. 
On  this  map,  the  first  range  of  sand-hills  parallel  with  the 
shore,  were  located  much  nearer  the  beach  line  than  is  shown 
by  later  surveys.  Another  map  is  known  as  the  Jeremiah  Wil- 
liamson map,  believed  to  have  been  made  previous  to  the 
Terhune  map,  somewhere  about  1765-70.  Upon  this  is  shown 
the  so-called  meadow  lots  of  the  North,  Middle  and  Ledge  bank 
division,  this  division  having  been  indicated  for  and  in  the 
interest  of  the  thirty-nine  original  freeholders  of  the  town. 


53 


They  were,  it  is  believed,  the  first  recognized  owners  of  this 
portion  of  the  Island,  and  some  of  their  heirs  and  assigns  have 
recently  claimed  portions  of  the  Island  on  the  basis  of  this 
recorded  light.  On  this  map  is  made  the  following  singular 
and  unique  memorandum:  "This beach  has,  within  tin1  memory 
of  living  men,  washed  away  more  than  a  mile  in  one  night." 
Other  old  surveys,  the  maps  of  which  show  parts  of  Coney 
Island  and  Grravesend,  were  made  by  Herman  Lifford  and 
Roger  Strong.  There  are  one  01  two  other  maps  of  interest, 
without  date  or  other  means  of  authentic  identification. 

A  more  recent  survey  and  map  was  made  by  the  United  States 
Coast  Survey  in  1835,  another  in  1855,  and  in  1M7.">  the  Engineer  of 
the  Park  Commission  completed  a  survey  with  the  view  to  a  care- 
ful comparison  with  those  which  preceded  it,  and  which  has  served 
as  the  basis  for  the  subsequent  operations  of  the  Commissioners 
and  others  in  the  vicinity.  The  older  inhabitants  of  Grravesend 
claim  to  have  observed  with  great  care,  the  alterations  of  the 
contour  of  the  beach  and  configuration  of  the  Island  generally, 
from  time  to  time.  These  observations  have  continued  through 
several  years  and  seem  to  justify  the  opinion  that  an  almost 
orderly  system  of  compensating  changes  is  continually  taking 
place  in  the  shore  line.  These,  are  more  or  less  directly 
due  to  meteorological  phenomena  of  the  spring  and  fall 
seasons.  The  prevalent  winds  and  characteristic  storms  of 
these  seasons  present  distinct  and  well  defined  phases  common 
to  this  latitude,  only  varying  in  a  marked  degree  when  storms 
of  a  somewhat  eccentric  character  of  long-continued  and  un- 
usual severity,  act  in  conjuntion  with  the  high  tides.  According 
to  our  own  observations  these ' changes  possess  a  marked  indi- 
viduality. A  restoration  by  storms  of  some  portions  of  the 
Island  that  have  been  altered  or  obliterated  by  previous  storms 
is  not  uncommon,  and  it  is  equally  true  that  portions  of  the 
Island  which  have  been  enlarged  at  one  time  by  storm  and  tide 
lose  their  accretions  from  the  same  cause  at  another.  Recent 
surveys  indicate  that  Coney  Island  has  gained  length  by  the 
accumulation  of  sand,  through  several  seasons.  These  changes 
are  observed,  if  not  more  intelligently,  certaintly  by  a  greater 
number  of  people  than  formerly,  and  they  are  oftener  the  sub- 
ject of  newspaper  notice.  Comparisons  of  the  two  latest  sur- 
veys show  that  additions  have  been  made  to  the  easterly  end 
and  considerable  losses  have  occurred  at  the  lower  or  extreme 
westerly  end.  The  principal  line  of  sand  hills  running  in  a 
generally  easterly  and  westerly  direction,  is  about  1,600  feet 
from  the  beach.    A  similar  but  less  conspicuous  sand  formation 


54 


making  a  secondary  chain  of  elevations  about  450  feet  from  the 
beach  ;  both  of  these  are  now  almost  obliterated  by  recent  im- 
provements. However  important  these  changes  may  have  been 
in  the  past,  there  has  operated  during  late  years  a  force,  or 
series  of  forces,  which  have  with  little  apparent  material  alter- 
ation, counterbalanced  the  loss  and  gain  of  surface,  so  that 
whatever  more  of  extent,  variety  of  features  and  picturesqueness 
the  Island  afforded  to  the  sturdy  Dutch  burgher  and  his 
family,  200  years  ago,  the  modern  visitor  may  be  congratulated 
upon  enjoying  with  more  certainty  those  extensive  attrac- 
tions with  which  the  Coney  Island  of  to-day,  abounds. 

While  the  safety  of  Coney  Island  has  been  greatly  ensured  by  the 
interposition  of  considerable  embankments  of  tilling,  strengthen- 
ed with  structure's  of  pile  and  heavy  timber  along  the  hotel 
water  fronts,  it  is  by  no  means  improbable,  that  a  phenomenal 
storm  may  occur  and  do  great  damage  to  portions  of  the  Island. 
At  certain  times  of  the  year,  there  is  a  prevalence  of  violent 
winds  and  storms  from  the  northeast  and  the  northwest  respect- 
ively. From  winds  from  the  former  direction  veering  toward  the 
south,  the  most  destruction  is  to  be  looked  for,  and  the  greatest 
care  should  be  taken  to  guard  against  their  effects.  A  north- 
east to  southeast  storm  often  brings  in  a  heavy  sea,  which, 
rolling  obliquely  along  the  shore,  aided  by  powerful  tidal 
currents,  with  such  force  as  to  warrant  the  greatest  alarm. 

The  severe  storm  of  January,  LS7H,  may  be  instanced  as  an 
example.  One  of  these  storms  raging  with  great  force,  the 
winds  and  tides  in  conjunction,  and  long  continued,  would  be 
liable  to  obliterate  the  most  important  improvements  on  the 
Island  in  a  few  hours. 

Storms  from  the  northwest,  while  also  prevalent,  rarely 
bring  in  an  ocean  swell,  while  the  waves  they  raise  fall  upon 
the  shore  in  a  line  nearly  perpendicular  to  the  trend  of  the 
coast.  The  projection  of  piers  into  the  ocean  at  points  along 
the  face  of  the  Island  may  ultimately  destroy  the  surf,  form 
bars,  and  so  materially  impair  the  attractions  of  bathing. 

The  parks,  the  suburban  improvements,  such  as  the  Ocean 
Parkway,  the  Concourse  and  other  works  at  Coney  Island,  were 
projected  by  the  Commissioners  with  reference  to  the  demands 
of  the  future.  They  foresaw  to  a  large  extent  what  would  follow, 
and  their  plans,  which  then  looked  so  formidable,  are  already 
recognized  as  not  exceeding  the  demand  for  them.  They  were 
plans  not  for  a  season  but  for  coming  years,  and  this  is  an  ele- 
ment in  all  the  undertakings  of  the  Commissioners  to  the  con- 
sideration of  which,  our  citizens  have  not  always  given  proper 


55 


weight.  The  Commissioners  have  been  compelled  oftentimes 
lor  want  of  proper  appropriations,  to  pursue  a  very  mistaken 
economy  in  their  judgment,  in  restricting  some  of  their  work 
to  a  basis  that  would  soon  require  repairs  and  not  much  later, 
to  be  built  anew. 

The  Coney  Island  of  to-day,  with  its  unequal  improvements 
and  its  latent  possibilities  for  becoming  one  of  tin1  most  popu- 
lar seaside  resorts  in  the  world,  is  notably  one  of  those  develop- 
ments which  the  Commissioners  with  reason,  claim  to  have 
outlined  and  foreshadowed  as  the  natural  sequence  to  the 
schemes  now  so  intimately  connected  with  the  Island  itself. 
Although  large  investments  have  been  made  there,  carrying  with 
them  magnificent  projects  calculated  to  secure  popular  approval, 
there  is  much  that  is  temporary,  crude  and  unsightly.  A  few 
nominal  and  some  real  owners  and  lessees,  individual  and  cor- 
porative, representing  the  interests  of  a  few  more  people,  are 
competing  with  each  other  and  with  those  who  may  yet  enter 
upon  unoccupied  ground,  for  the  pecuniary  profits  that  may 
result  from  their  various  enterprises.  As  an  outgrowth  of  this, 
there  are  already  three  or  four  distinct  clusters  of  buildings,  each 
representing  a,  variety  of  entertainment  for  the  public,  and  if 
the  existing  condition  of  things  continues  without  interruption 
or  restriction,  it  will  be  but  a  very  short  time  before  the  entire 
Island  wilj  become  a  vast  and  anomalous  seaside  conglomera- 
tion of  hotels,  pavilions  and  meretricious  exhibitions,  and  shows, 
presenting  a  straggling,  incongruous  and  most  undesirable  ap- 
pearance, and,  in  large  measure,  disappointing  if  not  destroying 
the  public  expectations.  There  are  no  watering  places  in  Great 
Britain,  or  on  the  continent,  which  can  afford  such  healthful 
enjoyment,  with  such  convenience  of  access  to  such  numbers  of 
people,  and  it  stands  almost  without  a  rival  in  our  own  country. 
It  is  of  peculiar  and  immediate  importance  to  Brooklyn,  with 
her  rapidly  growing  suburbs,  which  within  the  coming  century 
may  embrace  this  resort  within  her  limits,  that  Coney  Island 
should  be  placed  under  a  wise  supervision  in  order  that  the 
people  may  enjoy  equally  and  cheaply  its  present  and  future 
attractions. 

It  is  desirable  for  economic  and  many  other  reasons  that 
proper  supervision  should  be  secured  at  the  earliest  moment. 
Long  leases  and  absolute  ownership,  with  the  improvements 
that  will  naturally  follow,  will  a  few  years  hence,  if  this  matter 
is  delayed,  seriously  embarrass  the  prosecution  of  plans  for  a 
much  wider  enjoyment  and  resource,  that  could  now  be  accom- 
plished with  economy  and  to  general  satisfaction. 


56 


The  problem  continually  presents  itself  how  to  provide  the 
greatest  amount  of  rational  pleasure  to  the  greatest  number  of 
people.  In  fche  exercise  of  their  duties  the  possibilities  and 
suggestions  of  Coney  Island  as  a  present  and  future  resort  for 
rest  and  recreation  of  our  teeming  population,  have  constantly 
engaged  the  attention  of  the  Commissioners.  Our  people 
should  consider  themselves  fortunate  in  controlling  so  impor- 
tant an  interest,  for  instance  in  so  fine  a  beach  as  comprises  the 
Concourse  at  the  Island,  and  it  remains  for  them  to  demand! 
intelligent  and  large-minded  legislation,  commensurate  with 
the  importance  of  a  matter  so  vital  to  their  welfare.  The 
interests  centred  at  the  Island  are  so  conflicting  and  the 
policy  governing  their  control  so  narrow  and  short-sighted, 
that  with  the  exception  of  few  moneyed  corporations  owning 
large  areas  of  land,  the  development  of  which  is  closely  allied 
to  enterprises  involving  a  large  expenditure  of  money  for  other 
purposes,  .it  is  easy  to  predict  their  future,  unless  proper  influ- 
ences are  used  to  harmonize  their  management,  so  far  as  it  may 
be  important  to  the  public  interest  to  do  it.  Intelligent  and 
disinterested  observation  can  only  lead  to  this  conclusion  upon 
one  point,  viz.:  that  the  chief  charm  and  attractiveness  of  Coney 
Island  can  only  be  preserved  by  unrestructed  access  to  its 
delightful  beach,  and  a  view  of  its  shore,  without  the  inter] >o- 
sition  of  incongruous  and  offensive  associations  such  as  the 
huckster,  the  caterer  to  low  amusements,  gambling  parapher- 
nalia and  other  unsightly  and  obtrusive  enterprises  which 
pander  to  the  tastes  of  only  a  few  people  and  are  exceedingly 
objectionable  to  the  majority  of  visitors.  Some  of  these  petty 
speculators  minister  to  depraved  tastes  and  offer  cheap  allure- 
ments of  a  flashy  and  questionable  character  to  induce  unthink- 
ing people  to  spend  their  money,  while  others  of  the  better  sort 
are  compelled  by  the  existing  and  often  unrestricted  condition 
of  things  to  thrust  themselves  into  competition  in  order  to  he 
where  the  crowd  congregate.  This,  on  portions  of  the  beach, 
has  grown  from  a  slight  annoyance  to  become  a  positive 
nuisance,  for  the  present  toleration  of  which  no  one  in  partic- 
ular is  to  blame,  because  there  is  no  absolute  law  to  prevent  it, 
or,  if  there  be,  no  authority  to  give  it  force.  In  similar  manner, 
other  abuses  have  gained  a  foothold  which,  with  every  recur- 
ring season,  are  now  growing  tenfold  stronger  by  royal  right 
of  possession.  The  aggregate  of  this  class  of  evils  necessarily 
deprives  the  people  at  large  of  a  vast  amount  of  that  satisfac- 
tion and  pleasure  in  their  visits  to  the  seaside  to  which  they 
are  justly  entitled. 


57 


Three  distinct  suggestions  impress  themselves  forcibly  upon 
the  Commission  as  essential,  if  not  vital,  to  the  continued 
and  permanent  success  of  Coney  Island  as  a  popular  seaside 
icsi  >rt.    These  are  : 

First — To  secure  the  beach  against  destruction  or  occupation 
by  greedy  owners  and  lessees,  thus  insuring  to  the  people  its 
free  and  unrestricted  use. 

Second — To  provide  a  convenient  promenade  and  roadway 
for  vehicles,  the  number  of  which  will  always  he  sufficient  to 
justify  the  amplest  accommodation  in  this  regard. 

Third — A  system  of  police  surveillance  under  regulations  that 
may  he  made  wholesome  and  effective. 

Fourth — To  secure  proper  sanitary  regulations  and  to  devise 
such  plans  for  the  disposition  of  refuse  of  all  kinds  as  will  re- 
move the  possibility  of  serious  annoyance  or  danger  to  visitors 
and  residents. 

The  preservation  of  the  beach  and  its  free  use  by  the  public, 
for  healthful  recreation  is  obviously  a  consideration  of  the  first 
Importance.  The  obstructions  that  now  encumber  portions  of 
it,  the  peripatetic  venders  and  the  vehicles  now  driven  along 
with  shouts  of  warning  to  pedestrians,  should  all  be  retired 
under  regulations  and  provisions  that  would  be  alike  gratifying 
to  the  public  and  just,  to  the  extent  of  giving  each  his  equal 
right  and  privilege  and  protection  in  the  same.  With  a  prom- 
enade under  proper  restrictions,  and  for  convey  ances  of  all  kinds, 
the  public  would  at  once  find  its  pleasure  and  comfort  greatly 
enhanced.  The  beach  at  present  is  a  favorite  resort  for  little 
children  accompanied  by  parents  or  servants;  there  is  necessity 
for  constant  caution  and  care  to  guard  them  from  vehicles  and 
rude  pedestrians  that  are  passing  from  one  point  to  another  on 
the  beach,  not  specially  because  it  is  the  beach,  but  because 
the  only  alternative,  the  driving  or  walking  through  the  soft, 
dry  sand,  a  little  back  from  the  beach,  even  when  no  booths  are 
encountered,  is  intensely  wearisome  to  both  man  and  beast. 
With  a  roadway  and  a  sidewalk  of  the  form  and  general 
character  such  as  has  already  been  described  to  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  by  the  Commissioners,  to  be  constructed  on  the 
line  of  Surf  avenue,  the  enjoyment  and  usefulness  of  the  Island 
would  be  materially  increased.  It  woidd  be  valuable  not  only 
to  the  great  visiting  public  but  to  all  who  cater  to  it  with  what- 
ever is  brought  to  the  Island  in  wagons — meats,  provisions, 
vegetables,  <vc.    A  roadway  of  this  description  should  afford 


58 


access  to  important  points  on  the  Island,  ami  would  of  itself 
be  a  bond  of  common  interest  to  a  local  community  which  mall 
one  day  be  twentyfold  what  it  is  now,  and  for  whose  welfare  a 
Liberal  and  intelligent  provision  should  be  made. 

The  want  of  svsteinat  ic  and  sufficient  police  supervision  at  the 
Island  is  already  a  serious  one,  and  if  not  provided  for  in  tin; 
iieai'  future  will  do  a  negative  injury  to  this  resort  which  it  will 
lie  long  iii  recovering  from.  One  point  on  tin-  Island  lias  Keen 
a  place  of  promiscuous  resort  for  thirty  years  past.  At  a  later 
period  the  beach  began  to  be  visited  at  another  point,  but  it 
was  not  until  quite  recently  that  this  resort  began  to  be  divested 
of  the  ill  repute  which  it  had  acquired  in  the  earlier  years  of 
its  history  as  a  place  of  recreation. 

[1  is  now  so  far  redeemed  in  this  respect  that  assaults  and 
rowdyism  are  comparatively  infrequent,  public  gambling  only 
occasional  and  jobbery  or  larceny  of  rare  occurrence.  This 
result  is  partly  due  to  the  great  predominance  of  a  more  law 
abiding  class  of  visitors  than  formerly,  partly  to  the  employ- 
ment of  private  policeman  at  some  of  the  leading  hotels,  and 
partly  due  to  the  presence  of  police  officials  from  this  city. 

There  is  neither  system,  discipline  nor  moral  results  of  any 
kind  from  such  service.  A  long  beach  where  thousands  gather  by 
day  and  by  night,  a  large  area  of  which  is  unlighted  and  w  hich 
is  unguarded  by  patrolmen,  affords  opportunity  for  a  great  deal 
of  impropriety  and  crime,  the  occurrence  of  which  will,  unless 
checked,  give  an  evil  character  to  this  resort  and  drive  from  it 
the  class  of  people  w  hose  continued  presence  and  confidence  is 
a  guarantee  of  its  respectable  character. 

This  is  a  matter  touching  the  interests  not  only  of  the  gen- 
eral public,  but  of  those  who  have  large  investments  there.  An 
evil  reputation  is  sometimes  as  insiduous  in  its  growth  as  a 
wasting  disease,  and  equally  fatal.  The  remedy  is  a  uniformed 
and  sufficient  police  service  for  the  entire  Island  during  the 
summer  season,  both  by  day  and  by  night,  adapted  to  its 
changing  exigencies,  assigned  to  duty  where  people  gather  in 
largest  numbers,  or  where,  in  the  judgment  of  an  intelligent 
executive,  they  may  be  most  required  in  the  preservation  of 
order  and  good  morals. 

Of  co-equal  importance  with  this,  if  not  of  greater  interest,  is 
early  attention  to  the  sanitary  requirements  of  the  Island,  a 
code  of  regulations  and  a  rigid  enforcement  of  them.  Hundreds, 
perhaps  thousands  go  to  Coney  Island  primarily  and  almost 
entirely  for  their  health,  mere  recreation  being  a  secondary 
consideration. 


59 


If  tlie  good  effect  of  the  sea  breezes  ami  pure  air  is  sought 
for,  the  Jesuits  should  correspond  with  these  expectations,  and 
visitors  should  in  some  satisfactory  degree  realize  the  benefits 
which  they  may  reasonably  hope  for,  by  timely  visits  to  the 
Island. 

To  disturb  the  mind  of  the  public  with  doubts  upon  this 
subject,  and  to  give  rise  to  possible  apprehensions  which 
practically  may  largely  be  imaginary,  will  nevertheless  plainly 
operate  to  a  large  extent  to  the  disadvantage  of  those  who  look 
to  the  visitors  for  the  patronage  upon  which  their  support  de- 
pends. Viewed  from  a  higher  stand  point,  this  is  the  least 
important  consideration,  but  it  plainly  indicates  the  direction 
in  which  owners  and  lessees  of  hotels  may  best  subserve  their 
own  by  uniting  the  interests  of  the  people  by  guarding  against 
any  annoyances  or  danger  which  may  be  avoided  by  the  timely 
use  of  such  means  as  will  probably  dispose  of  the  sewage,  &c, 
and  render  apprehension  and  complaint  unnecessary  if  not  im- 
possible. To  disregard  this  plain  dictate  of  business  foresight, 
will  be  to  turn  every  visitor  into  a  detractor  and  the  reputation 
of  the  Island,  if  this  neglect  should  become  flagrant,  would 
suffer  very  severely  in  consequence. 

The  Commissioners  having  been  led  to  consider  this  problem, 
do  not  regard  it  as  one  necessarily  difficult  of  solution,  nor  as 
involving  large  pecuniary  outlay,  and  they  have  already  consid- 
ered the  propriety  of  securing  such  aid  from  the  county  authori- 
ties as  would  enable  them  to  initiate  on  a  part  of  the  Island 
most  favorable  for  such  purposes,  a  scheme  which,  if  it  proves 
practicable,  the  results  may  be  further  enlarged  upon  and  per- 
fected by  the  co-operation  of  those  most  distinctly  interested. 

So  much  may  be  said  in  regard  to  the  four  leading  wants  of 
the  Island;  but  something  may  be  added  of  a  general  nature 
which  seems  pertinent  to  the  subject.  It  may  be  said  of  the 
existing  policy  at  the  Island,  or  the  want  of  it,  that  it  is  of  a 
character  too  restrictive  for  people  of  moderate  means.  To  a 
large  majority  of  Island  visitors  who  are  neither  very  poor  nor 
very  rich,  there  is  the  alternative  of  paying  more  dearly  for  the 
gratification  of  their  appetites  and  tastes  than  they  can  afford 
to,  or  of  patronizing  places  which,  however  respectable,  possess 
distasteful  associations  and  belongings  that,  if  accepted,  it  is 
with  a  mental  protest  and  a  sense  of  dissatisfaction. 

All  that  affords  pleasure  to  the  masses  at  Coney  Island, 
whether  it  be  sustenance  or  amusement,  should  be  equally  acces- 
sible and  under  equally  favorable  conditions. 

A  point  that  should  not  be  underestimated  in  considering 
the  improvement  of  Coney  Island,  is  the  importance  of  securing 

8 


60 


at  the  earliest  moment,  the  necessary  legal  authority  to  give 
sucli  shape  and  character  to  its  interests,  so  far  as  they  arc  of 
public  concern,  as  will  preserve  for  the  common  benefit  of  all, 
the  best  uses  of  this  watering  place,  which  at  no  distant  period 
may  become  a  charming  summer  seaside  city,  with  Lighted 
streets  and  hundreds  of  cottages,  its  more  public  places  thronged 
as  now,  by  thousands  of  transient  visitors,  attracted  not  only 
li\  the  sea  itself,  but  by  many  other  facilities  of  enjoyment, 
not  the  least  of  winch  will  be  that  they  are  safe,  healthful, 
economical  and  thoroughly  satisfying. 

It  would  be  as  impossible  as  it  is  unnecessary  perhaps  to 
forecast  the  future  of  Coney  Island  and  its  approaches. 

It  seems  safe  to  believe  that  at  no  remote  period  a  substan- 
tially built  drive  will  be  completed  around  the  margin  of  (iraves- 

end  Bay,  through  Bay  Ridge  and  Fort  Hamilton,  Ac,  affording  a 
most  delightfully  picturesque  series  of  land  and  water  views. 
The  scenery  contiguous  to  ( iravesend  Bay,  the  Na  rrows,  and  the 
Upper  Bay  comprises  suburbs  of  the  most  delightful  character. 

The  prominent  seaside  resorts  to  which  the  residents  of  New 
York,  Brooklyn,  Jersey  City  and  other  cities  in  this  vicinity 
pay  tribute,  are  Newport,  part  of  the  Massachusetts  coast  and 
('ape  May.  They  are  reached  only  by  the  sacrifice  of  time, 
move  or  less  inconvenience  by  reason  of  their  distance,  and  a 
considerable  outlay  of  money.  The  same  criticisms  possess  an 
approximate  force  when  made  as  to  Fire  Island,  Long  Branch 
and  some  other  minor  resorts. 

Coney  Island  possessing  all  the  advantages  for  which  other 
places  of  the  kind  are  sought,  chief  of  which  are  a  hue  beach 
and  surf,  and  ample  facilities  for  safe  bathing,  is  even  now 
almost  a  suburb,  in  its  nearness  to  the  largest  and  most 
densely  populated  area  in  this  country,  with  capabilities  of 
becoming  to  two  million  of  people  a  veritable  people's  resort, 
to  which  access  by  water,  in  itself  affording  an  attraction  highly 
prized  by  thousands,  is  most  convenient,  while  the  extensive 
railroad  facilities  connecting  with  all  parts  of  New  York  and 
Brooklyn  render  little  to  be  desired  in  this  particular. 

All  of  which  is  respecfully  submitted. 

J.  S.  T.  STRANAHAN, 

President. 

F.  G.  Quevedo, 
Jno.  Y.  Culyer,  Secretary. 
Chief  Engineer  and  Superintendent. 


61 


Statement  of  Receipts  and  Expenditures  on  account  of  the  several 
Parks  of  the  City  of  Brooklyn  during  the  Year  1874. 


PROSPECT  PARK. 


Receipts. 


Balance  to  credit,  January  1,  1874  

Received  for  water  sold  

rents  of  buildings  on  the  Park.  . 

%  '         royalty  on  Carrousel  

•'        surveys,  maps,  &c   

hire  of  steam  rollf-r   

"        grass  and  old  material  

"        boat  license  

"         wagons  and  harness  

"        stune,  etc.,  sold  

"        Surveyor's  instruments  

"  milk  

"         trees  and  shrubs  

carriage  license  

Received  from  Franklin  avenue  improvement. 
"  Park  pound   


Total 


Expenditures. 


Paid  salaries  engineers,  «ic    

•'    surveyors,  draughtsmen  and  assistants  

"    laborers,  keepers,  horses  and  carts  

"  materials  of  construction,  tools  and  instruments. 

"    stationery,  printing,  and  drawing  materials  

"    office  expenses,  rents,  and  repairs   

"    trees,  plants,  and  shrubs  

"  insurance  

"    legal  expeoses  

"    manure  and  other  fertilizers  

"   horse  feed  

"    patent  pavements  


Balance,  January  1,  1875. 


$223  10 
7,142  (10 

310  53 
5,794  35 
1,000  00 

640  41 

500  00 
1,500  00 

205  00 
7  50 
1,156  36 
80  55 
46  26 
6,241  02 

100  85 


$1,882  70 
5,353  26 
60,687  52 
36,951  75 
1,409  14 
2,138  30 
1,066  24 
333  00 
678  00 
184  33 
357  40 
812  63 


Total 


62 


WASHINGTON  PARK. 


Receipts. 

Received  from  City  <>f  Brooklyn  . 


Expenditures. 

Balance,  January  1,  1874  

Paid  surveyors  and  assistants  .... 

"    drainage  pipe  . .   

"    materials  of  construction  and  tools. . . . 

"    Scrimshaw  and  stone  pavements  

laborers,  mechanics,  horses  and  carts 

"    horse  feed    

"    trees  and  boxes   

"    printing  and  advertising  

"    retaining  wall  


Balance,  January  1,  1875. 
Total  


1(1 


1979  K 

152  32 

767  81 

551  59 

026  19 

50  00 
198  00 

51  00 
412  20 


$25,000  00 


$2,551  47 


10,188  57 

$21,743  04 
3,250  96 

$25,000  00 


CITY  PABK. 


Receipts. 
Balance  to  credit,  January  1,  1874 


Expenditures. 

Expended  on  pavements  and  walks 
"       '.'  labor  


$5,016  75 
32  90 


s:!.772  52 


$5,049  65 


63 


ZINDEL  PARK. 


;  .  .  

Receipts. 

$4,000  00 

Expenditures. 

$84 

16 

1,514 

13 

"     wages,  laborers,  horses  and  carts  

846 

38 

stone  coping,  &c  

1,048 

95 

"  stationery  

11 

00 

"      materials  of  construction,  tools,  &C   

323 

07 

"     trees  and  shrubs  

7") 

1  1 

88 

70 

$3,991  50 

Balance  

8  50 

Total  

$4,000  00 

MAINTENANCE  ACCOUNT. 


Received  for  the  maintenance  of  all  the  City  Parks  for 

the  year  1874   

Received  for  the  maintenance  of  Franklin  avenue   


Balance . 


Deficiency  in  maintenance  of  former  years. 
Expended  in  maintenance  of  1874  


$26,734  86 
126,708  23 


$125,000  00 
2,406  80 


$127,406  80 
26,036  29 


$153  443  09 


$153,443  09 


64 


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65 


PARA.DE  GROUND. 


Receipts. 


Balance  to  credit,  January  1,  1874. 
Amount  received  from  County  Treasurer. 


Expenditures. 


Paid  keepers  

"  mechanics,  laborers,  horses  and  carts  . 

"  materials  of  construction  and  supplies. 

"  trees  and  shrubs  


$185  88 
784  59 
83  60 
55  25 


Balance,  January  1,  1875 


06 


Receipts  and  Expenditures  during  the  Year  1  875. 

PHOSPKCT  PARK. 


Eeceipts. 
Balance  to  credit,  January  1,  1875  . 


EXPENDITURES. 

Paid  salaries,  engineers,  surveyors  and  clerks  

"   mechanics,  laborers,  keepers,  horses  and  carts. 

"    materials  of  construction,  tools,  &c  

"    trees  and  shrubs  

"    printing,  stationery  ana  drawing  materials. .. . 


S3.523  03 
17,787  81 
14.584  12 
984  20 
403  22 


MAINTENANCE. 


Receipts. 


Received  from  City. 

rent  of  buildings  on  Park 
royalty  on  camera-obscura . 
"        sale  of  cattle  .... 


"  tools  

"        royalty  on  Carousal   

Received  for  milk   

"  "       boat  license. ...   

"  "       carriage  license  

"  "       water  sold  

"  "  grass  and  old  material. 
"       from  Park  pound   


Expenditures. 

Balance.  January  1,  1875    -.  

Paid  supplies,  materials  of  construction  and  tools  .  .  . 
"  salaries,  engineers,  surveyors  and  draughtsman. 

"  laborers,  keepers,  horses  and  carts  

"  printing  ....  

"  office  expenses  and  rent  of  office.  

"  legal  expenses  

"  horse  feed   

"  music    

"  stationery,  drawing  materials,  &c  


Total. 


$120,11011 

t,858  mi 

77  65 

438  70 

350  00 

125  00 

516  10 

2,021  7(i 

1,500  00 

500  00 

70  30 

792  88 

30  CJ0 


$21,665 

21 

4,434 

51 

96,535 

61 

683 

78 

1,985 

39 

690 

20 

3,527 

SI 

3,900 

00 

1,142 

16 

67 


WASHINGTON  PARK. 


Receipts. 

;><>,-•>'>  ;m> 

5.0U0  00 

$8,256  96 

EXPENDITC  RES. 

$980  42 

1,086  55 

"    laborers,  keepers,  mechanics,  horses  and  carts.  .. 

3,372  34 

5,439  31 

$2,817  65 

TOMPKINS  PARK. 


RlCLIPTS. 

$326  48 

Expenditures. 

Paid  salaries  engineers,  surveyors  and  assistants  

$32  39 

"   materials  of  construction,  tools,  &c    

6  20 

14  26 

52  85 

Tefal  

$273  63 

PARK   BOUNDED  BY  GWINNETT  AND  MIDDLETON  STREETS  AND 
BROADWAY  AND  THROOP  AVENUE. 


Receipts. 
Balance  to  credit.  January  1,  1875 

Expenditures. 


Paid  materials  of  construction,  tools,  »v 
"    laborers,  horses  and  carts  


$50  57 


9 


68 


MARTYRS'  TOMB. 


Rkckipts. 

* 

$552  40 
$567  40 

ExiVNDITlBES. 

Paid  salaries  surveyors  and  assistants   

$f>8  15 
53  75 
445  50 

"  laborers,  mechanics,  hones  and  carts  

CUMBERLAND  PARK. 

Extendi  tches. 

Balance,  January  1,  1875  

Paid  laborers  

$117  43 
1  05 

$118  48 

i 

MAINTENANCE  PARKWAYS. 

RtCtlPTS. 

$5,000  00 
$8,467  30 

Expenditures. 
"    salaries,  engineers  and  superintendence  

$8,397  69 
69  61 

69 


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70 

PARADE  GROUND. 


Receipts. 


Balance,  January  1,  1875   

Aim mut  received  from  County  Treasurer 


$2,583  80 
2,500  00 


Expenditures. 


Paid  keepers  aud  superintendence   $2,022  04 

laborers,  mechanics,  horses  and  carts   1,948  60 

supplies,  materials  of  construction  and  tools  ....  594  7;i 

insurance    209  88 


Balance,  January  1,  1870 


Receipts  and  Expenditures   during  the   Year  L876. 
MAINTENANCE  OF  PARKS. 


Receipts. 

The  total  receipts  for  maintaining  the  Public  Parks 
during  the  year  1876,  were: 


Received  from  City.  . 

Balance,  January  1,  1877. 


SI 20, Or  0  00 
32.155  80 


Expenditures. 

The  total   expenditures  for  maintaining  the  Public 
Parks  during  the  year  1876,  were: 

Balance,  January  1,  1876  

Paid  supplies,  materials  of  construction  and  tools   $23,712  30 


salaries  engineers,  surveyors  and  draughtsmen 

laborers,  keepers,  horses  and  carts  

office  expenses  and  rent  of  office  

horse  feed  


music    

stationery  drawing  matsriilfi.  &i 


Total 


5,082  80 
85,82  4  55 
1,614  08 
3,561  08 
3,177  50 
547  39 


71 


Total. 

o 
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1  29 

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$159  28 
263  70 
723  69 

2,175  68 
317  72 

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$210  15 
470  99 
51  36 

1,177  33 
316  66 

OS 

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$13,432  95 
3,000  82 

1G.370  81 

13,928  43 
7,554  83 
427  97 
2,237  01 
1.173  59 

34  690  25 
3,177  50 

12  149  85 

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72 


MAINTENANCE  OF  PARKWAYS. 


EXPENDITURES. 


Balance,  January  1,  1870  

Paid  laborers,  horses  and  carts  

"  trees  

"  materials  of  construction,  &c... 
"   engineers  and  superintendence. 


Receipts. 

Received  from  City  of  Brooklyn 
Balance  


$3,467  30 
4,802  03 
422  00 
534  6) 
579  70 


$9,865  68 


8,000  00 


$1,805  08 


WASHINGTON  PARK. 

The  total  Receipts  and  Expenditures  during  the  year  1870,  were  : 


Receipts 

Balance  to  credit,  January  1,  1876 
Received  from  C  ity  of  Brooklyn  


$2,817  65 
0,000  00 


ExPENDITUItES. 


Paid  for  iron  gates  

"       granite  steps  and  platforms. 

Balance,  January  1,  1877   


S3, 150  00 
5,436  50 


$8,817  65 


8,586  50 
$231  15 


73 


TOMPKINS  PARK. 


Expenditures. 

Paid  surveyors  ami  assistants  

"  trees,  shrubs  anil  plants  and  flag-staff 
"    laborers,  horses  and  carts.  


Receipts. 
Balance  to  credit,  -January  1,  187(5 
Total  


$96  55 


PARADE  GROUND. 


RECEIPTS. 


Balance,  January  1,  1876  

Amount  received  from  County  Treasurer, 


2,5(10  00 


ExPENlUTUHES. 


Paid  laborers,  mechanics,  horses  and  carts   SI, 076  76 

"    keepers  and  superintendence   1,761  67 

"    supplies,  materials  of  construction  and  tools   20:  S  ::s 


Balance  January  1,  1877 


74 


Receipts  and  Expenditures  during   the   T*ear  1 S  7 7 . 
MAINTENANCE  OF  PARKS. 


Receipts. 

The  total  receipts  on  account  of  maintaining  the  public 
parks  during  the  year  1877,  were: 

Received  from  City  

•'       for  deficiency  of  1872  and  1875   

Am  ont  of  accounts  certified  to  Auditor  

He  -l  ived  for  rent  of  building  on  Prospect  Park  

"         carriage  license  

"         milk  sold  

"  boat  license   

' '  royalty  on  Carrousel  

"  "  eamera-obscura  

old  material  sold.  .   

"  water  

• '        trees   .... 

"  cattle   

"         Park  pond  

"         revenue  of  1876  


Balance,  January  1,  1878. 


Expenditures. 

The  total  amount  of  expenditures  on  account  of  main- 
taining the  public  parks  during  the  year  1877,  were: 
Halance,  January  1,  1877  

Paid  salaries  engineers,  surveyors  and  draughtsmen  .  .  . 
"  laborers,  keepers,  mechanics,  horses  and  carts  . . 

"  supplies,  materials  of  construction,  tools.  &c   

"  office  expenses,  rent  of  office  and  insurance  

"  stationery,  drawing  materials  and  printing. 

"  patent  pavement   

"  horse  feed   


music  

trees,  shrubs  and  plants. 


Paid  City  Treasurer. 


$00.01 10 

(Ml 

35,600 

00 

66,134 

83 

5,427 

oo 

500 

mi 

500 

00 

1,0(10 

(III 

424 

48 

51 

426 

37 

88 

10 

7 

mi 

5 

mi 

3 

0(1 

3,271 

11 

SI  73, 438  16 
03C  40 

$174,074  56 


$9,233 

in 

94,054 

49 

29,9:59 
1,310 

57 
19 

1,609 

94 

339 

05 

1.030 

15 

2,875 

mi 

383 

20 

$32,155  80 


$140,775  61 
1,143  15. 

$174,074  56 


75 


WASHINGTON  PARK. 


Receipts. 

Cash  balance,  January  1,  1S77  

Amount  of  accounts  certified  tc^ Auditor  

Expenditures. 

Paid  laborers,  horses  and  carts  

"  granite  steps  and  platforms,  and  freight  on  same 

"  salaries,  engineering  and  superintendence 

"  psitent  pavement  


$231  15 
4,897  95 


$1,184  08 
3.4(1-2  00 
241  33 
299  69 


MAINTENANCE  OF  EASTERN  PARKWAY. 


Ri  OEirTs. 

Amount  of  accounts  certified  to  Auditoi 
Balance  January  1,  1S7S 


EXPENDITURES. 


Paid  laborers,  horses  and  carts 

"    engineering  and  superintendence 

"  supplies   

"  trees  


MAINTENANCE  OF  OCEAN  PARKWAY. 


Receipts 

Received  from  City   

Balance,  January  1,  1878  

Expenditures. 

Paid  laborers,  horses  and  carts  

'•  engineering  and  superintendence  

"  supplies,  printing,  materials  of  construction,  Ac 

"  keepers  

"  tools  


$7,(  on  00 
1,75!)  64 


S3, 298  30 
663  65 
2,366  97 
1,530  7-2 
900  00 


10 


76 


SKATING  SHELTER. 


Receipts. 


Received  from  City. 


Expenditures. 

Paid  laborers  and  mechanics    

"  lumber,  materials  of  construction,  tools,  &c 
"   engineering  anil  superintendence  


$2,786  22 
7,811  25 
375  00 


*10.'.»7o  47 


SH>,!>75  47 


WILLINK  ENTRANCE. 


Receipts. 

Received  from  City  Treasurer  

Balance,  January  1,  1878  

Expenditures. 

Paid  laborers,  horses  and  carts  

"  supplies,  materials  of  construction  and  tools 

"  engineering  and  superintendence  

"  drainage  pipe  

"  pavement  


1 1,225  50 
1,445  19 
250  00 
178  10 
2,821  76 


£5,920  55 


$5,920  55 


77 


PARADE  GROUND. 


Receipts. 

Amount  received  from  County  Treasurer. 

Expenditures. 


Balance  January  1,  1877  

Paid  laborers,  mechanics,  horses  and  carts.. 

"  keepers  and  superintendence  

"  supplies  and  materials  of  construction. 
"  insurance   


Balance  January  1,  1878 


$383  20 
1,421  71 
820  74 
337  10 
G8  00 


$2,500  00 


3,030  75 
$530  75 


MAINTENANCE  OF  CONCOURSE  AT  CONEY  ISLAND. 


Receipts. 

Amount  received  from  County  Treasurer 
Expenditures. 


Paid  keepers  and  superintendence  

"   laborers,  mechanics,  horses  and  carts  

"  sup,  lies,  materials  of  construction  and  tools. 
"  trees  


Balance  January  1,  1878. 


S781  10 
1,122  95 
218  18 
62  10 


$2,000  00 


2,184  33 
$184  33 


7  s 


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79 


Maintenance  of  Prospect,  Washington,  Carroll,  City,  City  Hall 
and  Tompkins  Parks,  for  the  Year  1878. 


Unexpended  balance  of  1877   

Amount  appropriated  by  Common  Com  oil  of  city  for 

I   year  1878  

Appropriated  by  Common  Council  for  deficiency  of 

1876    

Appropriation  by  resolution  of  Common  Council  of 

December,  1877   

From  Park  Revenue  Fund  


Items  of  expense  certified  to  Auditor  on  account  of 
Maintenance  of  the  Public  Parks  of  the  city  : 

For  pay-rolls  of  laborers,  mechanics,  hor-.es  and  carts 

"  keepers  

employes,  Superintendent,  Secretary, 

and  clerks    

For  bills  of  supplies,  feed,  lumber,  <fcc  

"         stationery,   drawing   mat  rials,  printing, 
and  books  

Unexpended  balance  


$8  32 

100,000  00 

3,517  70 

1,500  00 
9,295  42 


sir.  808  57 
27,528  29 

7,183  25 
31,482  76 

1,010  39 


MAINTAIN ANCE  OF  EASTERN  PARKWAY. 


Amount  appropriated  by  Common  Council  for  the  year 

1878     

Unexpended  balance  of  appropriation  of  1877  


Items  of  expense  certified  to  Auditor  for  above  object: 


For  pay-roll  of  laborers,  keepers,  &c  

"  employes  and  superintendence 

Bills  for  trees   

"     supplies  and  materials   


Unexpended  balance 


$4,000  00 
17 


§3,371  85 
447  50 
132  00 
48  32 


$4  000  17 


$3,999  67 
50 

$4,000  17 


80 


MAINTENANCE  OF  OCEAN  PARKWAY. 


Amount  appropriated  by  Common  Council  of  the  City 
for  year  1878    

Transferred  by  Common  Council  from  Park  Revenue 
Fund  


Items  of  expense  certified  to  Auditor  for  above  object  :- 


For  pay-rolls  of  laborers,  horses  and  carts  

For  pay-rolls  of  employers  and  superintendence. 

water  

trees   

horses  

wagons   

road  scraper  

water  carts  

"  supplies  and  materials   


Unexpended  balance . 
Total  


$10,000  00 
000  OH 


$r,.:wi  07 

81)4  80 

287  77 

143  (10 

350  00 

.-,1111  (Ml 

HO  (1(1 

900  00 

1,355  34 


$10,900  (io 


$10,892  64 
7  36 


$10, 900  00 


WASHINGTON  PARK.  BUIL1  >ING  BATTERY  WALL 


Amount  appropriated  by  the  Common  Council  for 

Washington  Park,  for  year  1878  

Unexpended  balance  of  appropriation  of  1877  


Items  of  cost  certified  to  Auditor  for  above  object  : 

For  pay-rolls  of  employes,  surveys  and  superintendence. 

"        "  laborers  

bills  for  tree  boxes  

'•     "  bricks,  cement,  supplies  

Bodwell  Granite  Company,  granite  

John  H.  O'Rourkc,  contract  


Unexpended  balance . 
Total  


$7,000  00 
2,102  05 


S42!)  67 
568  61 
20ii  00 
117  00 
5,0!*5  90 
2,690  00 


$0  102  05 


$9,101  18 
87 

$9,102  05 


81 


WASHINGTON  PARK  FLAGGING. 


Amount  appropriated  by  Common  Council  for  flagging 
aud  regulating  sidewalks  of  Washington  Park  


Items  of  cost  certified  to  Auditor  for  above  object: 


For  pay-rolls  of  laborers,  horses  and  carts. . . . 
"   superintendence,  inspection  and  surveys. 

"   supplies/bricks  and  cement   

"   drain  pipe   ...   

"   Peter  Lynan,  contract  


Amount  of  appropriai  ion  unexpended 
Total  


$827  i)7 
285  00 
142  05 
8  10 

2,734  26 


ERECTION  OF  PICNIC  SHELTER  ON  PROSPECT  PARK. 


Unexpended  balance  of  appropriation  of  1877,  applica- 
ble to  Picnic  Shelter  

Appropriation  of  1878  


Items  of  cost  certified  to  Auditor  for  above  object  : 


For  labor  

"  superintendence  

"  E.  Snedeker,  contract. 

"  E.  Snedeker. 

"   patent  pavements  

"  lumber  

"  drain  pipe  

"  supplies  

"  har  ware  


Unexpended  "balance. 
Total  


$7,021  53 
2,892  01 


SI, 720  78 
495  27 
5,550  00 
100  00 
1,083  78 
58  39 
339  44 
532  90 
27  99 


82 


ERECTION  OF  SHELTER  AND  REPAIRS  OF  FENCE  OF  TOMPKINS 

PARK. 


Amount  appropriated  by  Common  Council  for  year  1878. 


Amounts  certified  to  Auditor  being  in  full  of  expendi- 
ture for  Baid  improvement: 


For  superintendence  and  inspection  

"  pay-roll  of  laborers  and  employ i  s  

"  Elbert  Snedeker,  contract  for  shelter. . . 
"    Miller  &  W  illiamson,  contract  for  fence 

"  patent  pavement   

"   supplies  and  material   


Unexpended  balance 
Total  


$3,000  00 


$'27.5  7") 
22!)  8!) 
1,870  00 
499  00 
08  53 
53  26 


Amount  appropriated  by  Common  Council  of  the  City 
for  1*78,  to  |  ay  amounts  expended  on  the  erection  of 
Green  House  and  ( 'arronscl.  soiling  and  planting  north 
side  of  Ocean  Hill,  and  additional  appropriations  for 
Skating  and  Picnic  Shelter  in  Prospect  Park   


Amount  certified  to  Auditor  for  cost  of  Green  House: 


Pay-rolls  of  laborers  and  superintendence  

Rills  for  supplies  and  materials  of  construction.  . 

Amount  certified  to  Auditor  for  cost  of  Carrousel: 

Pay-rolls  of  laborers  and  superintendence   

Bills  for  supplies  and  materials  of  construction.  .  . 


Amount  certified  to  Auditor  for  cost  of  Ocean  Hill  Im- 
provement: 

Laborers,  horses  and  carts  


Amount  certified  to  Auditor  for  additional  cost  of 
Skating  Shelter: 


Pay-rolls  for  laborers,  horses  and  carts  

Balance  credited  to  account  of  additional  appropriation 
for  Picnic  Shelter  


$2,611  oo 

5,6'JG  41 


3,968  07 
1,961  56 


2,316  9a 

554  00 
2,892  01 


83 


PARK  REVENUE. 


Receipts. 

Amount  received  from  rents  

"  royalty  on  Carrousel  

"  carriage  license  '   

boat  '  "   

"  Ariel  Kink  

milk  

"  sale  of  cattle   

"  "     sheep   . 

"  "     old  material   

"  i        "■      "  derrick  

"  "      "  castings  

"  tree  boxes  

"  "  water   

"  goldfish  

•'  use  of  steam  roller  

"                 care    of    runaway    horses  and 
broken  carriages  

|878. 

Feb.    2,  amount  paid  City  Treasurer  

Mch.   8,  "  "   

April  11,  "  "   

May  28, 

fjuly    2,  "  "   

"     13,  "  "   

Sept.  12,  "  "   

Dec.  12,  "  "   

!•«    31,  "  "   


>i. 020  mi 

363  27 

500  oo 

500  00 

07  :il 

305  05 

70  oo 

120  67 

2:t:S  14 

150  00 

Oti  30 

12  00 

3,854  46 

9  72 

75  00 

58  00 


$2,350 

05 

216 

;;o 

50 

on 

73 

30 

178 

50 

114 

50 

1,367 

84 

6,085 

73 

575 

30 

CONCERT  FUND. 


Amount  subscribed  by  the  several  railroad  companies, 
and  paid  iu  the  City  T  reasury    

Transferred  by  Common  Council  from  Park  Revenue 
Fund    


Amount  certified  to  Auditor  for  sixteen  concerts  given 
by  Deverell's  Thirteentb  Regiment  Band,  Prospect 
Park  


$1,100  00 
816  00 


$1,016  00 


$1,916  00 


$1,916  00 


11 


84 


KINGS  COUNTY  PARADE  GROUND. 


Amount  appropriated  by  Supervisors  of  Kings  County 
for  care  and  maintenance  of  Parade  Ground  


Amount  expended  during  year  1878  for  above  object : 


Balance  January  1,  1878  

For  wages  of  keepers,  laborers  and  mowers. 
"  wages,  salaries  and  superintendence . . . 
"    supplies,  lumber,  tools,  Ac  


Balance  January  1,  1879. 


$530  75 
2,031  14 
255  50 
21)3  67 


$2,500  00 


$3,111  0G 
(ill  06 

$2,500  00 


CONCOURSE  AT  CONEY  ISLAND. 


Amount  appropriated  by  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Kings 
county  for  care  and  maintain ance  of  Coney  Island 
Concourse  


Amount  expended  during  the  year  1878   for  above 
object: 

Balance,  January  1,  1878  

For  laborers  and  keepers   .... 

"  salaries  and  superintendence  

"  repairs  to  Scrimshaw  pavement  (damage  by  storms) 
"   lighting  with  gas  


Balance,  January  1,  1879. 


SI  84  33 
894  41 

94  00 
2,210  17 

41  78 


$2,500  00 


$3,424  G9 


S924  69 


85 


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Financial   Statement  jar  the   Year  1879. 
MAINTENANCE  OF  PUBLIC  PARKS. 


Unexpended  balance  of  1N78  

Amount  appropriated  by  the  Common  Council  of  the 

city,  for  the  year  1870   

Amount  derived  from  Park  Revenue    


Items  of  Expense  certified  to  Auditor  on  account  of 
Maintenance  of  Public  Parks  of  the  City  : 


For  pay-mils  of  laborers,  mechanics,  horses  and  carts  . 

"  pay-rolls  of  keepers  

"    hills  of  supplies,  feed,  lumber,  Arc  

"    bills  of  stationery,  drawing  materials,  printing  and 

books  


Balance  unexpended  January  1,  1880. 
Total  


$308  18 

75  000  00 
9,211  96 


$39,75(1  70 
31,1  1 8  00 
12,740  45 

858  70 


$84,520  14 


$84,513  00 
7  14 


S84.520  14 


MAINTENANCE  OF  EASTERN  PARKWAY. 


Amount  appropriated  by  the  Common  Council  for  the 
year  1879  


Items  of  expense  certified  to  Auditor  for  above  object: 

For  pay-rolls  of  laborers,  keepers,  horses  and  carts. .  . 
"    bills  for  supplies  


Balance  unexpended  January  1,  1880. 
Total  


$4,974  00 
20  00 


$5,000  00 


$4,994  00 
6  00 

$5,(100  00 


87 


MAINTENANCE  OF  OCEAN  PARKWAY. 


Amount  appropriated  by  Common  Council  for  the  year 
1879  


Items  of  expense  certified  to  Auditor  for  above  ob 
ject : 


For  pay-rolls  of  laborers  and  teams . 

"  trees   

"  lumber  

"  transportation   

"  bydr  nts  

"  supplies  and  materials  


Balance  unexpended  January  1,  1880. 

Total  


$9,431  85 
K'2  80 
68  30 
150  00 
124  00 
11!  I  05 


BEDFORD  AVENUE  REPAIRS  AND  CLEANING. 


Amount  appropriated  by  Common  Council  of  the  city 
for  the  year  1879  


Items  of  expense   certified  to  Auditor  for  above  ob- 
ject : 

For  pay-  rolls  of  laborers,  keepers,  horses  and  carts  ... 

"   repairs  to  tar  pavement  

"  printing  


Unexpended  balance,  January  1,  1880. 


8475  54 
3,514  36 
9  00 


$4,000  00 


$3,998  90 
1  10 

$4,000  00 


SALARIES— OFFICES  OF  PARKS. 


Amount  appropriated  by  Common  Council  of  the  city 
for  the  year  1879  


Items  of  expense  certified  to  Auditor  for  above  ob- 
ject : 


For  pay-rolls  of  officers  and  employes  

Unexpended  balance,  January  1,  1880. 


$8,500  00 


$8,500  00 


88 


MUSIC — PROSPECT  PABK. 

Amount  appropriated  by  Common  Council  of  the  City  for  the 

year  1879   $1,500  00 


Items  of  expense  certified  to  Auditor  for  above  object : 
For  twelve  concerts  given  by  Conterno's  Band  on  Prospect  Park.  .  . .     $1,500  00 


REVENUE  DERIVED  FROM  THE  PUBLIC  PARKS  OF  THE  CITY  OF 
BROOKLYN  AND  PAID  INTO  THE  CITY  TREASURY. 

From  rents   $4,069  03 

"  boats   l,0i  0  00 

"  carriage  license. . .    375  00 

'•  water   3,257  95 

"  sale  of  old  material   85  15 

"  sale  of  cattle     96  00 

"  Camera-obscura   18  65 

"  Carrousel   241  04 

"  Ariel  Rink   52  14 

"  care  of  broken  wagons   17  00 

$9,211  96 


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The  following  tabular  statement  contains  various  statistics  per- 
taining to  the  parks  and  other  works  under  the  control  of  the 
Park  Commissioners,  or  refer  to  works  brought  to  completion 
under  their  direction  : 


An  a  of  I'roapect  Park  proper,  exclusive  of  the  east  siile  lands  .  . 

Area  of  Parade  Ground   

Area  of  the  east  side  lands,  exclusive  of  reservoir  and  grounds.  . . 

Area  of  reservoir  an,d  grounds  

Atea  of  meadows  finished   

Area  of  woodlands  

Area  of  water  surface    

Area  of  concourses,  drives,  bridle  roads  and  walks  

Area  of  surfaces  unfinished  

Length  of  drives  finished   

Length  of  bridle  roads  finished    

Length  of  walks  finished     

Length  of  drainage  pipe  laid  

Length  of  tile  pipe  laid   

Length  of  water  pipe  laid   

Masonry  built  I   ....  22,894 

Bituminous  concrete  laid   940,738 

Material  moved   3.281,0h2 

Washington  Park— area    

Length  of  walks  

City  Park  area  

Length  of  walks  

Carroll  Park— area  

Length  of  walks  

Tompkins  Park — area      

Length  of  walks    

Citv  Hall  Park— area   

Zindel  Park- -area   


505A  acres. 

'     I  Oil 

i:$0 

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63  h  " 
61  ■<„ 

Ip  " 

66$,  " 

5fih  miles. 

3  '■>  " 

111  !I7  << 
,VI  (l() 

1  I  Oil 

culnc  yards, 
square  feet. 

cubic  yards. 
30  jl 


'  I  DO 


acres, 
miles. 


I  'Ml 
]  llll 


1  llll 
7  7  "- 


STATEMENT  showing  ((mounts  of  material  on   various  works  ex- 
terior to  the  Parks,  hy  the  Brooklyn,  Park  Commissioners. 


Name  or  Designation  of  Work. 


East-side  lands   

Eastern  Parkway  

Washington  avenue  

Underbill  avenue  

Park  place  

Butler  street  

Douglass  street  

Degraw  street  ...   

Ocean  avenue  

Franklin  avenue  

Coney  Island  avenue 

Fifteenth  street  

Ocean  Parkway  

Concourse,  Coney  Island 


Cubic  Yards. 

220,134 

786,897 
73,150 
50,000 
'.1.000 
23,000 

217.184 
01.020 
35.350 
11,075 
3  250 
13.510 

971.200 
00,200 


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Statistics  of  Keeper  Force. 

Captain   1 

Sergeants   3 

Keeper — average  number  from  1S74  to  1879,  inclusive.  ...  43 

Appointed — from  1874- to  1879,  inclusive   16 

Resignations- — from  1874  to  1879,  inclusive   5 

Discharges  for  discipline — from  1874  to  1879,  inclusive...  II 

Suspensions  for  discipline — from  1874  to  1879,  inclusive.  .  %% 

1874 —  Daily  average,  42.    Per  centage,  95. 

1875—  « '       "      37.  "  86£. 

1876—  "        'l      38.  "  92§. 

1 877—  "       35.  "  86. 

1878—  "         "       32.  "  76. 

1879—  "         "       31.  "  77A. 


Arrests. 

For  fast  driving,  disorderly  conduct,  interfering  with  officers, 
&c— from  1874  to  1879,  inclusive   421 

Ejected  from  the  Parks  for  minor  transgressions  of  the  ordi- 
nances— from  1874  to  1879,  inclusive   37 

Sheltered  for  the  night — from  1874  to  1879,  inclusive   143 

Lost  children — cared  for  and  returned  to  their  parents,  from 
1874  to  1879,  inclusive   86 

Accidents — carriages,  sleighs,  &c,  from  1874  to  1879,  in- 
elusive   551 

Drowning — from  1874  to  1879,  inclusive?*   2 

Suicides — from  1874  to  1879,  inclusive   7 


L03 


Return  of  Visitors  for  1874. 


Month-'. 

January  

February  

March  

April  

May  

•Tune  

July  

August  

September  

October  

November  

December  

Totals  


(  '  LRBIAGES. 

Esqoes- 

Pedes- 

TRIANS. 

trians. 

236,271 

3,147 

87,179 

124.392 

3,343 

89,946 

238,203 

3,375 

69,470 

290,010 

3  897 

68,796 

361,182 

4,827 

177.  t28 

304,236 

4,039 

165,101 

368,394 

3,390 

1  S3, 080 

369,681 

4,086 

L99.520 

331,200 

4,225 

162  941 

395,463 

4,923 

143  993 

325, 1)71 

4,666 

81,747 

171,693 

2,584 

29,004 

3,526,326 

46,502 

1,458,205 

Sleighs. 

83.2  1 7 
121,581 


34,494 
239,292 


Return  of  Visitors  for  1S75. 


Months 


January.  . 
February . . 
March 
April 

May  

June  

July   

August. . . . 
September  . 
October.  .  .  . 
Nove  iiber. 
I  (ecember. . 


Totals. 


Carriages. 


64. 

62. 

94, 
213 
369, 
423, 
427. 
398 
106, 
393 
25s 
198, 


107 

556 
092 
900 
114 
207 

no 

016 
251 
174 
243 
843 


3,309,285 


Eques- 
trians. 

1,071 

738 

1  436 
3,159 
5.490 
5,025 
4,145 
3,878 
3,949 
4,805 
3.255 

2  463 

40,020 


Pedes- 
trians. 


134 
81 
25. 
44, 
171, 
'220, 
251, 
221, 
10S 
162, 
61, 
31, 


293 
936 
051 
691 
230 
352 
083 
432 
495 
646 
143 
614 


Sleighs. 

227,748 
:  VI.  157 
65,211 


1,579,972 


3.25, 110 


/ 


1(>4 


Return  of  Visitors  for  1870. 


Months. 


January  . . 
February. . 

March  

April  

May  

June  

July  

August .... 
September. 
October 

November 
December . 

Totals. 


Cabriages. 


227,  lis 
155,106 
120.870 
197,868 
:sns..si  I 
312,576 
300.555 
298,503 

228.270 
294,098 
200,082 
102,207 

2.75:!, 022 


TBIAN8. 


2,430 

1.  s.v; 
1,944 
3,193 
.5,240 
4,693 

2.  :!  is 
2,690 
2. 1  .V.I 
3,210 
2,520 
1,330 

33,034 


Pedes- 
trians. 


10,869 
33,529 
19,034 
40  273 
130,553 
130,341 
137.323 
1  17.511 
86,398 
99,656 
37,078 
84,54!! 

993,147 


Si  [.Kills. 


53,598 

180 


123,750 
I77.SIO 


Total. 

270.723 
21  1,080 
l  12.331 
211  334 
450,013 
447,010 

iio.22i; 

448,797 
310  827 
396,961 
240,280 
311,812 

3,957,643 


Return  of  Visitors  for  1877. 


Months. 


January  . . 
February .  . 
March 

April  

May 

June  

July  

August.  .  .  . 
September 
October  . . . 
November 
December  . 

Totals 


Carriages. 


41,519 
133.185 
159,348 
2i2.:;o7 
336,028 
390,039 
325,589 
297,009 
318,5s] 
272,247 
187,803 
194,230 


2,867,885 


Equi  s- 

TBJ  INS. 


343 
1,084 
1,404 
2.414 
3,001 
2,969 
2.170 
1,743 
2,394 
2,.i46 
2.070 
2,508 

25,258 


Pedes- 
trians. 


70. 
48 
27 
67, 
158. 
188. 
230, 
163, 
140 
86, 
36, 
34, 


020 
902 
277 
924 
931 
139 


Sleighs. 


179,1  85 


108 


208  . 
934 
711  . 
959  . 


712 
804 


1,200,582    179,193  4,332,918 


105 


Return  of  Visitors  for  187S. 


Months. 

Cariuac;es. 

r.  QUES- 

1 KDES- 

Sleighs. 

Total. 

TMAN'S. 

TRIANS. 

1 ,  SI  o 

i  •> 

104,100 

1,238 

22,342 

24,110 

151,790 

March   

178,572 

2,492 

43,137 

221.2H1 

April  

234,120 

3,049 

77,060 

314,229 

May    

282.924 

3,199 

111,499 

397,622 

276,678 

3  271 

149,033 

428,982 

July   

331.182 

2,917 

228,116 

562,215 

August.    

292,458 

3,055 

131,496 

427,009 

281,7(KI 

2,864 

123,739 

408,3(13 

October  

291,210 

3,587 

96,809 

391,606 

November   

221,588 

3,342 

15.703 

270,  G33 

December   

128,067 

1,271 

(If,,  094 

196,932 

2,787,224 

33,003 

1,129,518 

24,122 

3,973,867 

I!,  turn  of  Visitors  for  1879. 


Months. 

January  

February   

March  

April  

May  

June  

July  

August  

September  

October  

November  

December  

Totals  


Carriages. 

Eques- 

Pedes- 

Sleighs. 

Total. 

tri>ns. 

trians. 

55,070 

769 

112,720 

37,822 

200,381 

(12,598 

968 

08,142 

1  1,(123 

146,331 

178.635 

2,358 

50,805 

231,798 

211,  (147 

2,849 

62,313 

300,809 

327,180 

5,349 

156.945 

489,474 

314,516 

4,279 

149,999 

408,794 

396,327 

4,068 

226,703 

027,158 

274,422 

2,925 

150  688 

431.035 

262,071 

3,693 

97,153 

302,917 

274.K17 

4,046 

91,969 

370,182 

228,886 

3,295 

5 '1,509 

288,690 

129,293 

1,893 

23  966 

2,550 

157,702 

2,744,812 

36  492 

1,253,972 

54,995 

4,090,271 

Picnics — From  1874  to  1879,  inclusive   1,854 

Base  ball  games — From  1874  to  1879,  inclusive   9,776 

Polo— 1^,79   18 

Parades — Divisions,  Brigades,  Regiments,  &c.,  from  1871 

tu  1S79,  inclusive                                                     .  48 

Concerts — From  1874  to  1879,  inclusive   103 

Skating— From  1874  to  1879,  inclusive   206 

Impounded  animals — From  1874  to  1879,  inclusive   81 


L06 


Statement  showing  the  Donations  of  Animals,  Fowls,  <Jsc, 
f  rom  the  several  named  parties  during  the  yeans  nolo/. 


NllMBEU  AND 

Description. 


2  deer   

1  deer  

1  Egyptian  gander. 

1  deer   

1  deer  

1  deer  

2  Aurora  rabbits.  . 

2  brook  trout  

1  a  t<:iupe  

1  bull  alf  


1  Muscovy  duck. 

1  Calcutta  lamb  . 

2  peafowls  

1  deer  

1  alligator  


Name  or  Donoh. 


A.  Forman  

L.  ('.  Benedict. 
Oapt.  Waeftiear 
Mr.  Tunnison. . 
Beory  Ihntz  . . . 
I)  a.  de  L u via. 

Dr.  Minton  

Mr.  Smitli  

C.  H.  Bridges. . 
CP.  Smitli  


2  loxes   F.  Sliepley    .  .  . 

1  deer   Miss  E.  S.  Wood 


Mies  J.  S.  Kane . . . 
J.  W.  Munsou  .... 

i)r.  J.  Smitli  

W  IL.  W)ggans..  . 

Dr.  Hutchinson  j  470  Clinton  avenue. 

Massachusetts. 


Addbbss. 


1  lt>  Pierrepont  street. 
Uemsen  sireet. 
72  linsh  street. 
Hat  bush. 

71  1  St.  Mark's  avenue. 
171  Henry  street. 
184  E&emsen  street. 
371  Baltic  street. 
Kansas 

7li  Pierrepont  street. 


17'.)  Lmjueer  street. 
127  High  street. 
Sag  Harbor. 
lOli  Gates  avenue. 


1  monkey  

2  Angora  rabbits 
1  deer  


St   Mark's  avenue. 


E.  Hatch   New  Jersey 

Miss  Meade    20  First  place. 

Gilbert  Potter   G  Bedford  avenue. 


2  alligators   Mr.  Bergen   Flatbush. 

1  peacock   Miss  A.  A.  Archer  . .  .  Conuectieut. 

1  fox  squirrel   J.  A.  Prentice    29  Lafayette  avenue. 


quail  

deer  

Museovy  duck. 

deer  

geese  


H.  E.  Pitkin    528  Bergen  street. 

•(.  8.  T.  Stranahan  . . .  It  linton  and  Union  Streets. 

Joseph  short  j  106  North  Oxford  street. 

H.  B.  Biggs  |  lit;  St.  James'  place. 

Mother  Baptista   Brooklyn. 


1  deer   C.  B.  Murphy. . . 

1  deer   H.  C.  Hill  ...... 

1  goat   j  George  *anford 

200  carp  E.  G.  Blatchford 


52  Duffield  street. 
189  Park  avenue. 
(Iravesend 

LSI  -sh  C  ammission 


107 


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114 


t 

Inventory  of  realty  and  other  property  belonging  to  the  Brooklyn 
Park  Commissioners  on  the  ?>\st  day  of  December,  1S7(<*. 

HEAL  ESTATE. 

Prospect  Park  (including  the  east  side  lands),  about.  .030  acres. 


Washington  Park   30£  " 

Tompkins  Park   7f  " 

City  Park   1\  " 

Carroll  Park   1A  " 

City  Hall  Park   \\  « 


STOCK. 


Description. 

NUMBEII. 

Condition. 

13 

77 
22 
213 

<  10  working. 
I   3  inferior. 
Good. 

> 

Sheep  

Deer   

Fowl  

The  latter  item  comprises  15  swan,  128  geese,  52  ducks,  18 
peafowls;  25  lambs, 4  deer,  50  geese,  61  ducks  were  added  to  the 
stock  during  the  year. 


WA.TER  TRUCKS. 

2  two-horse  trucks,  good  condition. 

6  two-horse  trucks,  good  condition. 

4  two-horse  trucks,  fair,  in  use  about  eight  years. 

2  one-horse  trucks,  fair,  in  use  about  eight  years. 

WAGONS  AND  CARTS. 

2  two-horse  dirt  wagons,  good  condition. 

2  two-horse  dirt  wagons,  fair  condition. 

3  two  horse  dirt  wagons,  worn  out. 
2  oue  horse  carts,  good  condition. 

1  one-horse  cart,  fair  condition. 

2  one-horse  carts,  worn  out. 
2  handcarts,  worn  out. 

1  light  wagon,  nearly  worn  out. 

2  lumber  sleighs,  good  condition. 

2  ice  planers  aDd  scrapers,  good  condition. 

83  large  lanterns  for  skating  house,  good  condition. 


115 


1  fifteen  ton  steam  roller,  serviceable. 

2  iron  hand  rollers,  serviceable 

2  two-horse  iron  cylinder  rollers,  serviceable. 
1  eight-horse  iron  cvlinder  roller,  serviceable. 

1  fourteen-inch  Worthington  duplex  pump,  with  boiler,  good 

order. 

2  hydraulic  jacks,  good  order. 
1  screw  jack,  good  order. 

3  boom  derricks,  miscellaneous  sizes,  with  gearing  worn  out. 
1  four  by-ten  inch  Blake  stone-crushing  machine,  serviceable. 
1  capstan,  serviceable. 

1   hose  truck,  worn  out. 
1  stone  truck,  worn  out. 

7  ladders,  such  as  steps  and  ordinary,  serviceable 
1  portable  house  furnace,  serviceable. 

1  portable  blacksmiths'  furnace,  serviceable: 

In  stoves  for  offices,  skating  house  and  shelters,  good  order. 

2  sets  of  double  harness,  worn  out. 

5  sets  of  double  harness,  good  condition. 

5  sets  of  single  harness,  three  sets  worn  out. 
;]()<>  feet  2.1-inch  leather  tire  hose. 
TOO  pounds  of  assorted  sizes  rope. 
300  feet  rubber  hose.  - 

2  platform  scales. 

SUPPLIES  IN  BUILDINGS.  &c. 

Under  this  head  is  included  the  stock  of  office  fixtures,  such  as 
desks,  chairs,  tables  and  safes,  with  a  stock  of  books,  blanks  and 
office  material  generally  for  current  use,  the  bulk  of  which  has 
been  in  use  for  a  period  ranging  from  five  to  eleven  years. 

TOOLS. 

The  stock  of  small  tools  and  implements  on  hand  have  not  met 
the  ordinary  requirements  of  the  work  during  the  past  season, 
and  consists  of  20  shovels,  86  picks  and  mattocks,  37  wood  and 
iron  rakes,  6  hoes,  6  axes,  37  brooms,  6  baskets,  19  pails.  5  dip- 
pers, 21  crow-bars,  11  paint  brushes,  &c,  "together  with  a  small 
stock  of  carpenters'  and  blacksmiths'  tools. 

The  stock  of  stable  material,  besides  the  more  important  items 
previously  enumerated,  includes  ordinary  stable  supplies,  horse 
blankets,  lield  umbrellas  for  water  trucks,  brushes  and  stable 
furniture  in  very  limited  quantity,  and  in  a  deteriorated  con- 
dition. 15 


116 


12  American  ensigns  in  good  condition  ;  15  fl;igs  worn  out. 
Tlie  clothing  of  the   keepers'  force  consists   of  84  suits  of 
summer  and  winter  uniforms  and  H  rubber  coats  in  fair  order. 

ENGINEERS'  SUPPLIES. 

4  drawing  boards. 
4  transits. 
4  levels. 

With  a  small  stock  of  rods,  tapes,  plumb  bobs,  and  other  engi- 
neering paraphernalia. 

MATERIAL  AND  GENERAL  SUPPLIES. 

We  have  on  hand  a  supply  of  material  for  current  use,  such  as 
oil  for  lamps,  a  small  stock  of  various  paints,  a  small  lot  of  lum- 
ber and  building  material,  sewer  drain  pipe,  tiles,  &c. 

As  heretofore,  the  custom  has  been,  din  ing  the  year,  to  order 
oidy  such  material  as  was  absolutely  needed  for  immediate  use. 

HOUSES. 

There  are  several  houses  on  the  east  side  lands  ;  a  portion  of 
these  are  occupied  by  employes  and  others  on  rental.  The  rents 
for  the  same  are  received  and  accounted  for. 


117 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  1. 

Table  showing  the  observed  Height  of  the  Barometer,  monthly, 
for  the  Year  ending  December  31,  1874. 


Month— 1874. 


Mean 

AT 

Mean 

AT 

Mean 
at 

n  3 

a 

D 
g 

a 

P 
g 

w 
o 

V5 
*] 
~ 

7  A  If, 

2   P.  M. 

9  P.  M. 

u 

« 

a 

a 

H 

Q 

30.183 

30.144 

30 

186 

30.171 

30.597 

29.675 

.922 

30.176 

30.143 

30 

173 

30.164 

30 

062 

29.685 

.977 

30.015 

29 . 978 

30 

033 

30.009 

30 

425 

29.527 

.898 

30  035 

30 

061 

30.051 

30 

568 

29 . 480 

1 

.088 

30.018 

29  909 

29 

999 

29 . 995 

30 

498 

29 . 641 

.857 

29 . 983 

30.014 

30 

046 

30.014 

30 

303 

29.537 

.766 

30.070 

30.041 

30 

032 

30.048 

30 

273 

29.794 

.479 

30 . 067 

30 . 040 

30 

058 

30.055 

30 

293 

29.715 

.578 

30.141 

30.103 

30 

122 

30.122 

30 

344 

29 . 523 

.821 

30.133 

30.087 

30 

138 

30.119 

30 

491 

29  704 

.787 

30  is:. 

30.147 

30 

208 

30.180 

30 

633 

29.319 

1 

.314 

30 . 169 

30.181 

"30 

156 

30.169 

30 

739 

29.734 

1 

.005 

Annual  Mean,  at  7  A.  M.,  of  365  observations,  30  .099. 
Annual  Mean,  at  2  P.  M.,  of  365  observations,  30.073. 
Annual  Mean,  at  9  P.  M.,  of  365  observations,  30.101. 
Annual  Mean  of  1,095  observations,  30.091. 
Maximum  for  the  year,  30.739  ;  9  P.  M.,  December  31. 
Minimum  for  the  year,  29.319  ;  9  P.  M.,  November  23. 
Difference  of  Kange,  1.420. 


118 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  2. 

Table  showing  the  State  of  the  Thermometer,  monthly,  for  the 
Year  ending  December  31,  1874. 


Month— 1874. 

Mean 

AT 
7  A.  M. 

Mean 

AT 

2  P.  M. 

Mean 

AT 
9  P.  M 

fx 

(9  z 

13 

p 
I 

n 
< 

a" 
p 

2 

l-l 

A 
M 

M 

XI 

O 
SS 
fa- 

«  fa 

■A  C 

fa 

fa 

Q 

w 

a 

< 

.January  

30.80 

36.29 

33.31 

33 

47 

62 

00 

9.00 

51 

00 

Febr  lary  ...   

25.57 

33  40 

31.18 

30 

05 

7(1 

00 

3.00 

67 

00 

Mach  

32  77 

41  32 

36.84 

36 

98 

63 

00 

13.00 

50 

00 

Apiil  

36 . 80 

44.32 

40.13 

40 

44 

66 

50 

19.50 

47 

00 

May  

55.01 

01.24 

50.23 

57 

49 

88 

50 

33.50 

55 

00 

60. 01 

75  35 

07  45 

69 

SI) 

92 

50 

00 

42 

50 

July  

71.90 

79.03 

71 . 21 

74 

05 

92 

50 

59  00 

33 

50 

August  

66  72 

74.02 

68.20 

69 

67 

92 

50 

52 . 50 

40 

00 

September  

03.25 

72.38 

65 . 13 

06 

92 

88 

50 

32.50 

56 

00 

October  

47.09 

59.61 

52.79 

53 

10 

69 

50 

35  50 

34 

mi 

November  .  .   

37.58 

46.28 

40.90 

41 

59 

65. 

00 

21.50 

43 

50 

December  .... 

29.50 

35  82 

32.31 

32 

54 

50 

50 

7.50 

43 

00 

Annual  Mean,  at  7  A.  M.,  of  305  observations,  40.97. 
Annual  Mean,  at  2  P.  ML,  of  305  observations,  54.92. 
Annual  Mean,  at  9  P.  M.,  of  365  observations,  49.65. 
Annual  Mean  of  1,095  observations,  50.51. 
Maximum  during  the  year,  92.50. 
Minimum  during  the  year,  3.00. 
Difference  of  Range,  89.50. 


11!) 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  3. 

Table  showing  the  Duration  and  Depth  of  Main  and  Snow, 
monthly,  during  the  Year  ending  December  31,  187L 


Month. 
1874. 


January 
Februar 
March . 
April  . 
May .  . . 
June. .  . 
July.  . 
August 
September 
October 
November. 
December 

Totals  . 


<c  u  • 
d  E!  £ 

rgS  o 

s 

13 
11 
10 
16 
10 
11 
8 
6 
9 


I 
11 

117 


DOEATION. 


45 
45 
15 
30 
50 
15 
15 
15 
55 
55 

30 


L0 


-  - 
M.S 

ts  el 


2.49 
.46 
1.10 
8.8S 
2.24 
2  31 
2.41 
2.90 
10.13 
1.86 
1.80 
1.33 


37.91 


rsj  .2 


00 


36.75 


3£ 

X 


1.56 


6.87 


3.99 
3.26 
2.11 
8  88 
2.24 
2.31 
2.41 
2.90 
10  13 
1.86 
1.80 
2.89 

44.78 


5  3  s  9 

>— i  w  .— 

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120 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  1. 

Table  showing  the  observed  Height  of  the  Barometer,  monthly, 
for  the  Year  ending  December  31,  1875. 


Month — 1875. 

Mean 

AT 
7    A.  M. 

Mean 

at 
2  p.  ii. 

Mean 
at 

9   P.  M. 

(H 

ti  . 

x  Z. 

h  a 

X  J 

Maximum. 

Minimum. 

Difference 

w 

°  i 
« 

January   

30.231 

30.109 

30.198 

30.199 

30.023 

29.703 

.920 

February  

30.130 

30.063 

30.110 

30.101 

30  545 

29.449 

1 

096 

March  .  .'  

30  117 

30.090 

30.118 

30.108 

30  50  1 

'.".)  050 

854 

April  

30  008 

29.969 

30.000 

29 . 992 

30 . 444 

29  020 

.818 

May  

30.018 

29.989 

30  023 

30.010 

30.297 

2'.l  002 

.095 

Juno  .  

30  070 

30  051 

30.002 

30 . 003 

30  212 

29.777 

.405 

July  

30  035 

30.008 

30.023 

30.022 

30.271 

29 . 702 

.509 

August  

30.080 

30  061 

30.073 

30.071 

30 . 329 

29  794 

.535 

September  

30  070 

:;n  042 

30.060 

30.059 

30  418 

29  708 

.710 

October  

30.031 

29  697 

30.022 

29.917 

30.494 

29.528 

.900 

November  

30.102 

30  054 

30 . 101 

30.086 

30 . 092 

29.581 

1 

111 

December  

30.054 

30.015 

30  040 

30  038 

30.677 

29.452 

1 

.225 

Annual  Mean,  at  7.  A.  M„  of  305  observations,  30  080. 
Annual  Mean,  at  2.  P.  M.,  of  3C5  observations,  30.017. 
Annual  Mean,  at  9.  P.  M.,  of  305  observations,  30.070. 
Annual  Mean  of  1,095  observations,  30.055. 
Maximum  for  the  year,  30  .092. 
Minimum  for  the  year,  29  449. 
Difference  of  Bange,  1  243. 


12L 


METEOROLOGICAL   TABLE   No.  2. 


Table  showing  the   State  of  the    Thermometer,  monthly,  for 
the  Year  ending  December  31,  1875. 


w 

Month — 1875. 

Mkan 

at 

Mean 

AT 

Mean 
at 

t* 

hi 
a 

H 

55 
Ed 

S 
p 
a 

S 
s 

a 

ERENC 
OK 

w 

c 

7  A. 

if. 

2  p. 

M. 

9  p. 

M. 

»S' 

a 

m 

q 

20 

35 

25 

98 

23 

78 

25 

.('3 

38.00 

i. 

5 

39 

5 

February  

19 

28 

26 

82 

23 

32 

23 

.14 

49.00 

49 

March  

28 

05 

34 

79 

32 

39 

31 

74 

53.00 

io 

5 

42 

5 

April  

38 

28 

47 

45 

40 

87 

42 

20 

62.50 

25. 

37 

5 

May  

55 

00 

64 

90 

56 

42 

58 

77 

86.00 

39 

47 

June  

65 

55 

74 

28 

65 

45 

68 

42 

94.00 

56 

5 

37 

50 

July  

71 

06 

77 

58 

7(1 

97 

73 

.20 

86.00 

62 

5 

23 

5 

August  

69 

00 

76 

40 

70 

23 

71 

87 

83.50 

55 

5 

28 

September  

59 

93 

68 

48 

61 

53 

66 

.64 

86 . 50 

45 

5 

41 

October  

48 

45 

57 

39 

51 

33 

52 

39 

70.00 

35 

35 

November  

35 

08 

41 

90 

37 

17 

38 

.05 

58.00 

8 

50 

December  

29 

45 

35 

19 

32 

40 

32 

.34 

56.00 

3 

53 

Annual  Mean,  at  7  A.  M.,  of  365  observations,  44.96. 
Annual  Mean,  at  2  P.  M.,  of  365  observations,  52.59. 
Annual  Mean,  at  9  P.  M.,  of  365  observations,  47.16. 
Annual  mean  of  1,095  observations,  48.65. 
Maximum  during  the  year,  94. 

Minimum  during  the  year,  —  1 .50.  (1|°  below  zero.) 
Difference  of  Eange,  95.50. 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  3. 

Table  showing  the  Duration  and  Depth  of  Rain  and  Snow, 
monthly,  during  the  Year  ending  December  31,  1875. 


Month. 
1875 


January 
February 
March  . 
A.pril .  . 
May  .  .. 

June  .  . 

July... 
August 
September 
October. . . 
November 
December. 

Totals . . 


k-3  o 
-  ■- 

•S-g  \ 


B  o  a 
y.  - 


9 
8 
9 
10 
8 
9 
12 
12 
8 
8 
10 
14 

117 


Duration. 


3  ■- 

-  5 


2  18 
2.34 
2.07 
1.72 
1.23 
2.84 
3.74 
6.42 
2.<i0 
2.87 
3.08 
2.543 

33.433 


on 

*  J 

a  d 

GO  .2 

c  — 


12.00 
8.75 

14  00 
7  00 


2  25 


44  00 


-a  -s 
-  - 


-  - 


6  a 


.64 
.95 
2.70 
.99 


.20 
5.48 


2.82 
3.29 
4.77 
2.71 
1.23 
2.84 
3.74 
6.42 
2.40 
2  87 
3.08 
2.743 

38.913 


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123 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  1. 


Table  showing  th?  observed  Height  of  the  Barometer,  monthly, 
for  the  Year  ending  December  31,  1876. 


Month— 1876. 

Mean 
at 

Mean 

AT 

M 

EAN 
AT 

K 

a 

55 

P 

p 

w 
o 
y. 

« 
w 

w 
fa  $ 

0  3 

7   A.  M. 

2  P.  M. 

9   P.  M. 

'A 
C 

< 

fa 
fa 

K 

(«= 

January   

3U 

142 

30 

109 

30 

142 

30 

131 

30 

.630 

29 

.574 

1 

056 

February  

30 

118 

30 

092 

30 

149 

30 

120 

30 

.894 

29 

139 

1 

.  755 

March  

30 

043 

30 

020 

30 

038 

30 

034 

30 

.483 

29 

.343 

1 

.140 

April  

29 

994 

29 

939 

29 

979 

29 

971 

30 

.358 

29 

.  359 

.  999 

May  

30 

088 

30 

055 

30 

065 

30 

069 

30 

421 

29 

.772 

652 

June  

30 

054 

30 

024 

30 

033 

30. 

037 

30 

253 

29 

.718 

535 

July  

30 

049 

30 

022 

30 

025 

30 

032 

30 

264 

29 

.823 

441 

30 

114 

30 

091 

30 

091 

30. 

098 

30 

281 

29 

.870 

411 

September...  ... 

30 

028 

30 

001 

30 

022 

30 

017 

30 

307 

29 

.725 

582 

October  

30 

037 

29 

992 

30 

033 

30. 

021 

30 

391 

29 

683 

708 

November  

30 

000 

29 

967 

29 

986 

29. 

984 

30 

381 

29 

.640 

741 

December  

30 

007 

29 

990 

30 

016 

30. 

004 

30 

616 

29 

.134 

1 

482 

Annual  Mean,  at  7  A.  M.,  of  366  observations,  30.056. 
Annual  Mean,  at  2  P.  M.,  of  366  observations,  30.025. 
Annual  Mean,  at  9  P.  M.,  of  366  observations,  30.048. 
Annual  Mean  of  1,098  observations,  30.043. 
Maximum  for  the  year,  30.894. 
Minimum  for  the  year,  29.134. 
Difference  of  Range,  1.760. 

16 


124 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  2. 

TaMe  showing  the  State  of  the  Thermometer,  monthly,  for  the 
Year  endiny  December  31,  1876. 


Month— 1876. 

Mean 
at 

7  A.  M. 

Mean 

AT 
2  1>.  M. 

Mkan 

AT 

0  P.  M. 

Monthly 

si 
< 
m 

3 

s 

p 
s 

M 

< 

M 

N 
O 
'A 

31.44 

38 

23 

34 

16 

34 

61 

65. 

5 

8.5 

57 

February   

28.10 

34 

43 

31 

17 

31 

22 

53. 

5 

8.5 

45 

Maix-h  

31.47 

39 

27 

34 

95 

35 

23 

65. 

5 

10. 

55 

5 

April  

42.87 

52 

27 

44 

98 

46 

71 

66 

27.5 

38 

5 

May  

55 . 70 

46 

73 

57 

73 

53 

.39 

85 

5 

30.5 

55 

60.55 

78 

38 

69 

80 

72 

.58 

02 

5 

46.5 

46 

July  

74.47 

83 

14 

75 

27 

77 

.63 

08 

5 

59. 

39 

5 

Aug>nt  

70.23 

70 

26 

71 

13 

73 

.54 

01 

5 

53. 

38 

5 

50.50 

66 

15 

6C 

07 

62 

.21 

85 

5 

44.5 

41 

•15.55 

54 

13 

48 

65 

49 

44 

73 

29.5 

43 

5 

November  

41  50 

46 

67 

42 

65 

43 

.61- 

70 

5 

22.5 

48 

21.84 

26 

40 

23 

76 

24 

.00 

53 

0.5 

52 

5 

Annual  Mean,  at  7  A.  M.,  of  366  observations,  47.69. 
Annual  Mean,  at  2  P.  M.,  of  36C  observations,  53.75. 
Annual  Mean,  at  9  P.  M.,  of  366  observations,  40.60. 
Annual  Mean  of  1,008  observations,  50  34. 
Maximum  during  the  year,  08.50. 
Minimum  during  the  year,  0.50. 
Range,  98. 


125 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  3. 

Tahle  showing  the  Duration  and  Depth  of  Rain  and  Snow, 
monthly,  during  the  Year  ending  December  31,  1876. 


Month. 
1876. 


January 
Pebruar 
March.. 
April.. . 
May  . . . 
June  .  . 
July  .  . 
August. 
September 
October-, 
November 
December 


m  -f-i  C 

3  a  S 


Totals   116 


7 

7 
13 
10 
11 

8 
11 

4 
13 
10 
13 

9 


Duration. 


16 


25 


5  f 
"  a 


- 


723 

71 

344 

467 

014 

I  22 


(•,404 


96 
374 


1.561 

4.19 

1.97 


41.899 


10. 

7. 


12.50 


29.50 


1.725 


3.265 


!j  ID 

d  ?"  u 

■5  5  = 

-  r 


.723 
4.72 
7.874 
3.467 
3.014 
3  122 
6.464 
1.96 
4.374 
1.561 
4.19 
3.695 

45.164 


Remarks. 


Occasional 
Snow- 
tin  rries. 

1 

I  Light 
(  showers. 


Snow  flur- 
ries. 


126 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  1. 


Table  showing  the  observed  Height  of  the  Iiaro?/ieter,  monthly, 
for  the  Year  ending  December  31,  1877. 


Month— 1877. 

Mean 
at 

7  A.  U. 

Ml' AN 
AT 
2  P.  M. 

Mean 
at 

9  P.  M. 

Monthly 
Mean. 

S3 
P 

£ 

< 

Minimum. 

w 
0 

< 

PS 

January  

30.164 

30.135 

30.271 

30  138 

30 

572 

29.285 

1.287 

February  

30  075 

29.832 

30.094 

30.036 

30 

.472 

29.513 

.959 

March 

150  .  000 

29.975 

30  015 

30.015 

30 

.507 

29  315 

1 .192 

April  

29.966 

29  942 

29  992 

29.972 

30 

.331 

29  524 

.808 

May  

30.027 

30  004 

30.014 

30.029 

30 

.360 

29  595 

.765 

June..   

30.068 

30  020 

30.055 

30.057 

30 

296 

29.762 

.524 

July  

29 . 990 

29  977 

29.991 

29 . 980 

30 

.265 

29.777 

1.488 

August .   

30  021 

29.998 

30  009 

30  053 

30 

.  200 

29.770 

430 

September  

30.094 

30.070 

30.058 

30 . 082 

30 

.311 

29  803 

.508 

October  

30.085 

30  041 

30.108 

30  061 

30 

.461 

29  492 

.969 

November  

30.109 

30  058 

30  105 

29.979 

30 

.586 

29.701 

.885 

December  

30.083 

30.047 

30 . 103 

29 . 97G 

30 

.598 

29 . 496 

1 . 102 

Annual  Mean,  at  7  A.  M.,  of  365  observations,  30.057. 
Annual  Mean,  at  2  P.  M„  of  365  observations,  30.008. 
Annual  Mean,  at  9  P.  M.,  of  365  observations,  30.068. 
Annual  Mean  of  1,095  observations,  30.044. 
Maximum  for  the  year,  30.598. 
Minimum  for  the  year,  29.285. 
Range,  1.313. 


127 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  2. 


Table  showing  the  State  of  Thermometer,  monthly,  for  the  Year 
ending  December  31,  1877. 


Month— 1877. 

Mean 

AT 
7  A.  II. 

Mean 

AT 
2  P.  If. 

Mean 
at 

9  P.  M. 

Monthly 
Mean. 

S 

a 

i 

< 

a 

D 
P. 

Range. 

January   

20.82 

29 

11 

25.71 

25.21 

43.5 

10. 

33 

5 

February  

26.80 

34 

49 

26.26 

29 . 20 

53.5 

13. 

40 

5 

March  

35.66 

40 

49 

35.66 

42.95 

59. 

12.5 

46 

5 

44  40 

61 

68 

45 . 20 

50.22 

75. 

30. 

45 

May  

55.21 

65 

44 

57.86 

59.50 

90. 

37. 

53 

June  

67.81 

77 

74 

68.24 

7126 

89.5 

51.5 

38 

72.00 

81 

25 

72.71 

75.34 

92.5 

58.5 

34 

August  

71.40 

81 

36 

73.08 

75  28 

90.5 

61. 

29 

5 

September  

63.27 

73 

61 

56  77 

64.55 

84. 

42. 

42 

October  

52.63 

54 

80 

53  55 

53.66 

77. 

37.5 

39 

5 

42  92 

46 

66 

45.82 

45.13 

67. 

25. 

42 

December  

32.56 

36 

08 

36.51 

35.05 

60.5 

21 

39 

5 

Annual  Mean,  at  7  A.  M.,  of  365  observations,  50.47. 
Annual  Mean,  at  2  P.  M.,  of  365  observations,  56.89. 
Annual  Mean,  at  9  P.  M.,  of  365  observations,  49. 
Annual  Mean  of  1,095  observations,  51.45. 
Maximum  during  the  year,  92.50. 
Minimum  during  the  year,  10. 
Range,  82.50. 


128 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  3 


Tdhle  showing  the  Duration  and  Depth  of  Rain  and  S?ww< 
mont/dy,  during  the  Year  ending  December  31,  1877. 


Month. 

Number  of  Days 
on  which  Bain  or 
Snow  occurred. 

Duration. 

11  tin 
inches. 

ED 

If 

2  « 
8.| 

^  a 

u  a. 

•S  =  5 

Remarks. 

1877. 

01 
OS 

Q 

BO 

o 

03 

a 

.a 

43 

a 

CD 

A 

a 

o 
,-a 

a, 
eg 
Q 

eg 

H  u 

5=  J 
o  .? 
=  S 

«|.S 

3  1 « 

o  a  >> 

January  

February  .... 

March.  .'  

April  

May  

June  

July  

August  

September.  .  . 

October  

November  .  . . 
December. .  . . 

7 
6 
18 
9 
13 
12 
11 
8 
6 
12 
11 
7 

3 
4 

3 
4 
1 

2 
21 

2 
21 

IX 

16 
17 
11 
16 
15 
6 
23 

45 
5 
40 
45 
58 
56 
50 
5 

17 

40 
19 

1.76 
1 . 381 
4  205 
3.587 

.953 
2.693 
5.148 
2.408 
1.470 
8.131 
4.895 

.652 

23. 
1.50 
7.50 

2.10 
.09 
.71 

3.86 
1  471 
4  915 

3  587 
.953 

2.693 
5 . 148 
2.408 
1.470 
8.131 

4  895 
.652 

Occasional 

Snow 
Flurries. 

]  Occasional 
\  Ligl.t 
j  Showers. 

Totals 

120 

35 

C 

20 

37.283 

32.00 

2.90 

40.183 

129 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  1. 


Tabic  showing  the  observed  Height  of  the  Barometer,  monthly, 
for  the  Year  ending  December  31,  1878. 


Month— 1878. 

Mean 

AT 
7  A.  M. 

Mean 

AT 
2  P.  M. 

Mean 
at 

9  P.  M. 

Monthly  | 
Mean. 

1 

Maximum. 

Minimum. 

t, 
O 
S3 
< 

30.064 

30  034 

30.062 

30.055 

30.640 

29.401 

1.239 

February  

29 . 965 

29.962 

29.992 

29.989 

30.311 

29.503 

.808 

March  

30.029 

29 . 986 

29.988 

30.028 

30.498 

29.257 

1.241 

April  

29.878 

29  849 

29.877 

29.877 

30.281 

29.329 

.952 

May  

29  974 

29.936 

29.948 

29.955 

30 . 239 

29 . 623 

.616 

30.034 

30.011 

30  014 

30.018 

30.231 

29.594 

.637 

July   ... 

30  015 

29.996 

29.941 

30.003 

30.194 

29.687 

.507 

29  945 

29  934 

29.941 

29 . 940 

30.204 

29.682 

.522 

30  150 

30  164 

30.171 

30.448 

29 . 762 

.686 

October  

30.068 

30 . 029 

30  034 

30.040 

3D  343 

29.470 

.873 

Novem b'  r  

29  993 

29.935 

29.995 

29 . 985 

30.481 

29.125 

1.356 

December  

30.041 

30.002 

30.021 

30.03^ 

30.467 

29.367 

1.100 

Annual  Mean,  at  7  A.  M.,  of  365  observations,  30.016. 
Annual  Mean,  at  2  P.  M.,  of  365  observations,  29.985. 
Annual  Mean,  at  9  P.  M.,  of  365  observations,  29.998. 
Annual  Mean  of  1,095  observations,  29.999. 
Maximum  for  the  year,  30 . 640. 
Minimum  for  the  year,  29 . 125. 
Range,  1 .515. 


130 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  2. 


I'ahlc  showing  the  State  of  'Thermometer,  monthly,  for  the  Year 
ending  December  31,  1878. 


Mi  AN 

Mean 

Mean 

|J  . 

X  X 

p 

Month  - 1878. 

AT 

at 

at 

zH 

Irt 

| 

H 

a 

7   A.  M. 

2  P.  M. 

9  P.  M. 

I5 

H 

55 

s 

January  

28.8) 

34.70 

31.05 

31.4! 

63. 

9.50 

43.50 

February  

29.15 

35 . 75 

32.08 

32.43 

53. 

8.50 

44.50 

March  

38  79 

48.40 

43.08 

45.59 

08. 

12. 

56. 

April  

48.54 

58.54 

51.37 

52.82 

75. 

39. 

36. 

Miy  

55 . 20 

08.14 

57.07 

59.23 

81  50 

39. 

42.50 

03.40 

71 . 72 

04  43 

00.52 

88. 

47. 

41. 

71.53 

81.48 

72.81 

75.53 

97. 

01. 

36. 

August  

08.49 

77.46 

70.01 

72  21 

88.50 

56. 

32.50 

September  

01.50 

71.08 

04 . 72 

05.94 

86. 

42.50 

43.50 

October  

52.09 

5-1.71 

54  43 

57.07 

76. 

30.50 

39.50 

November  

39.59 

47  24 

43.34 

43.T.8 

60.50 

27. 

33.50 

December  

29.58 

34.52 

31.85 

31.97 

58. 

13. 

45. 

Annual  Mean,  at  7  A.  M.,  of  305  observations,  48.91. 
Annual  M<-an,  at  2  P.  M.,  of  305  observations,  57.37. 
Annual  MeaD,  at  9  P.  M.,  of  305  observations,  51.50. 
Annual  Mean  of  1,095  observations,  52.59. 
Maximum  for  the  year,  97. 
Minimum  for  the  year,  8.50. 
Range,  88.50. 


131 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  3. 


Table  showing  the  Duration  and  Depth  of  Rain  and  Snow, 
monthly,  during  the  Year  ending  December'  31,  1878. 


Month. 
1878. 


January  . 
February 
March 
April . 
May . . 
June  . 
July.. 
August 
September 
October. .  , 
November. 
December. . 

Totals.. . . 


3  d 


16 

7 
14 

8 
11 

8 
10 
12 

7 
12 
11 
10 

126 


Duration. 


4.692 

3.03 

3.512 

1.205 

3.691 

3.345 

5.942 

6.48 

2.123 

2.318 

4.61 

4.96 

45.908 


a  a 

cc-S 


11.00 


H  to 


o  « 


725 
293 


05 
33 

1.398 


T3  _=  CO 

93.3 
I II 

2  £  s" 

a  o  -g 


5 .417 

3.323 

4.512 

1.205 

3.691 

3.345 

5  942 

6.48 

2.123 

2.318 

4. 06 

5.29 

47.306 


Eemarks. 


Occasional 
Snow 
Flurry. 

) 

I  Occasional 
\  Light 
'  Showers. 


Occasional 

Snow 
Flurries. 


17 


132 


METEOEOLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  1. 


lable  showing  the  observed  Height  of  the  Barometer,  monthly, 
for  the  Year  ending  December  31,  1879. 


Mean 

Mean 

Mean 

5  . 

m  'a 

i 
p 

3 
P 

Month— 1879. 

AT 

AT 

at 

w 

7  A.  M. 

2  F.  M. 

9  P.  M. 

Ja 

U 

z 

M 

S3 

-4 

January   

30.029 

29.977 

30.010 

30.005 

30.445' 

29.510 

.935 

February   

30.017 

29.983 

30.032 

30.010 

30.723 

£9.440 

1 . 283 

March  

30.166 

30.064 

30 . 079 

30.092 

30.00(1 

29.366 

1.294 

April  

29.944 

29.908 

30.012 

29.934 

30.373 

29.466 

.907 

May  

30.095 

30.089 

30.090 

30.139 

30.495 

29 . 707 

.728 

June  

29.992 

29  909 

29 . 999 

20.999 

30.338 

29.537 

.801 

July  

30.026 

30  007 

30.015 

30.010 

30 . 285 

29.592 

.093 

August   

30.009 

29.985 

29.989 

30.017 

30.279 

29.562 

.717 

September   

30  167 

30 . 140 

30.160 

30.156 

30.431 

29.780 

.651 

October  

30.187 

30.142 

30.179 

30.167 

30.728 

29  551 

1.177 

November  

30 . 205 

30  159 

30.281 

30.188 

30.580 

29  499 

1.081 

December  

30.180 

30.158 

30.182 

30  162 

30.418 

29.794 

.624 

Annual  Mean,  at  7  A.  M.,  of  365  observations,  30.085. 
Annual  Mean,  at  2  P.  M.,  of  365  observations,  30.045. 
Annual  Mean,  at  9  P.  M.,  of  365  observations,  30.086. 
Annual  Mean  of  1,095  observations,  30.072. 
Maximum  for  the  year,  30.723. 
Minimum  for  the  year,  29.366. 
Kange,  1.367. 


* 


133 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  2. 


Table  showing  the  State  of  Thermometer,  monthly,  for  the  Year 
ending  December  31,  1879. 


Month— 1879. 

Mean 
at 

7  A.  If. 

Mean 

AT 
2  P.  M. 

Mean 
at 

9  P.  M. 

Monthly 
Mean. 

Maximum. 

Minimum. 

Range. 

January   

22.27 

30.10 

26.07 

26.16 

46.50 

2. 

48.50 

February  

24.32 

30.05 

26.22 

27.54 

45. 

7. 

50 

37  50 

March  

30.39 

41.49 

36.22 

36.75 

58. 

19. 

39. 

April  

40.75 

51.42 

43 . 98 

44.91 

69. 

21. 

50 

47.50 

May  

54.83 

64.58 

5(1.70 

54.97 

81.50 

39. 

50 

42. 

June..   

G7.02 

76  66 

67.56 

70.83 

90.50 

47. 

50 

43. 

July  

71.33 

81.86 

72.78 

75.24 

95. 

62. 

50 

32.50 

August  

70.41 

79 

71.74 

73  71 

90.50 

60. 

30.50 

September  

61  24 

68.96 

62.35 

64.25 

86. 

45. 

41. 

55.65 

65.38 

57.60 

61.09 

84. 

31 

50 

52.50 

November  

37.13 

43.62 

38.64 

39.79 

72.50 

21 

51.50 

December  

39.94 

41.07 

36.00 

36.34 

58. 

11 

47. 

Annual  Mean,  at  7  A.  M.,  of  365  observations,  47.94 
Annual  Mean,  at  2  P.  M.,  of  365  observations,  56.18. 
Annual  Mean  at  9  P.  M.,  of  365  observations,  48.81. 
Annual  Mean  of  1,095  observations,  50.98. 
Maximum  for  the  year,  95. 
Minimum  for  the  year,  — 2.    (2°  below  zero.) 
Range,  97. 


134 


METEOROLOGICAL  TABLE  No.  3. 

Table  showing  the  Duration  and  Depth  of  Rain  and  Snow, 
monthly,  during  the  Year  ending-  December  31,  1879. 


-  .2  J 


8 
11 
15 
13 
10 
14 
11 
10 
8 
G 
11 
16 


133 


Duration. 


4 
19 
1 

13 
13 

9 
15 
22 
.  .i  23 
1  I  19 
5  9 


33  14 


«  3 

<H  A 


Yi> 

77 

2G4 

469 

435 

850 

983 

•215 

956 

531 

835 

051 


25  39.109 


33  a 


25 


38.25 


49 

013 

05 


3.353 


'S  2.  * 

a  qj 

rj  0<  O 

its 

o  a  g 


3.24 
2.783 
3  314 
4.469 
2.435 
2.850 
3.983 
9.215 
1.956 
.531 
1 . 995 
5.691 

42.462 


Hemabks. 


Occasional 

Snow 
Flurries. 

I 

|  Occasional 
\  Light 
j  Showers. 

I 

Occasional 
Snow 
Flurries. 


135 


P 
0 


'S.IUOJJ 


■sJLv(j 


0) 
[> 
CO 

H 


Es 
o 

S3 
02 

S5 


•saqout  ni 

'arejj  pun 
•la^tiAY  paonp 
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136 


Summary  for  the  six  yearn. 
BAROMETER. 


Mean,  for  6,573  observations   30.051 

Maximum,  February  5,  1870    30.894 

Minimum,  November  22,  1878    29.125 

Range   1.769 

THERMOMETER. 

Mean,  for  6,573  observations   51 . 22 

Maximum,  July  9,  1876    98.50 

Minimum,  January  3,  1879    2.00 

Eange   100.50 

RAIN  AND  SNOW. 

Total  fall  of  snow  in  inches   192.50 

Reduced  to  water   23 . 260 

Total  fall  of  rain   237.182 

Total  fall  of  snow  reduced  to  water  and  rain   260.448 


DURATION. 

The  time  in  which  rain  and  snow  fell : 

224  days,  22  hours,  28  minutes. 


The  following  comprises  the  several  Acts  of  the  Legis- 
lature, relative  to  the  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners,  during 
the  period  covered  by  this  Report : 

CHAPTER  572. 

An  Act  to  amend  an  Act  entitled  "An  Act  to  provide  for  the 
improvement  of  the  Coney  Island  plunk  road,  as  recently 
widened,  passed  May  three,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy- 
two." 

Passed  May  25,  1874;  three-fifths  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in  /Senate 
and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows: 

Section  1.  Section  one  of  the  Act  entitled  "  An  Act  to  pro- 
vide for  the  improvement  of  the  Coney  Island  plank  road,  as 
recently  widened,  passed  May  three,  eighteen  hundred  and 
seventy-two,"  is  hereby  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows: 

§  1.  The  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners  are  hereby  authorized 
to  grade,  gravel,  curb  and  gutter  that  portion  of  the  Coney 
Island  plank  road,  as  recently  widened,  lying  between  the  circle 
at  the  southwesterly  angle  of  Prospect  Park  and  Church  lane,  and 
said  Church  lane  from  said  road  to  Ocean  Parkway,  according  to 
a  plan  to  be  devised  and  adopted  by  them.  All  expenses  inci- 
dent to  said  improvements,  after  having  been  duly  certified  by 
the  said  Park  Commissioners  to  the  Commissioners  of  Estimate 
and  Assessment,  appointed  as  hereinafter  directed,  shall  be  by 
them  apportioned  and  assessed  upon  the  property  in  their  judg- 
ment benefited  thereby,  within  a  district  of  Assessment  to  be 
fixed  by  the  said  Park  Commissioners ;  but  no  district  of  assess- 
ment shall  extend  beyond  the  termini  of  the  improvements  pro- 
vided for  in  this  Act,  and  the  assessments  specified  in  their 
report,  when  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  county  of 
Kings  and  duly  confirmed  by  an  order  of  the  Supreme  Court  at 
Special  Term,  upon  an  application  therefor,  of  which  ten  days' 
notice  shall  have  been  given  in  two  newspapers  printed  in  the 
city  of  Brooklyn,  shall  constitute  liens  upon  the  several  parcels 


138 


of  lands  and  premises  upon  which  they  shall  have  been  laid,  and 
shall  be  collected  in  the  manner  hereinafter  directed.  The  said 
Part  Commissioners  may  also  contract  in  writing,  for  the  making 
of  the  said  improvement  and  may,  from  time  to  time,  as  the  work 
progresses,  issue  to  the  contractors  in  the  name  and  upon  the 
authority  of  the  said  Commissioners,  certificates  of  indebtedness 
bearing  interest,  to  the  extent  of  eighty  per  cent  of  the  work  com- 
pleted by  said  contractors,  payable  out  of  the  assessments  there- 
for, when  collected.  The  Supreme  Court,  in  the  Second  Judicial 
District,  at  a  Special  Term  thereof,  shall,  upon  application  of  said 
Park  Commissioners,  on  notice  of  ten  days,  to  be  published  in 
two  papers  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  appoint  three  Commissioners  I 
of  Estimate  and  Assessment,  who  shall  be  residents  of  the  town 
of  Klatbush,  who  shall  have  the  powers  and  perforin  the  duties 
of  the  Commissioners  of  Estimate  and  Assessment,  who  acted  in 
estimating  the  damages  incident  to  the  widening  and  opening  of 
the  said  road.  All  the  provisions  of  chapter  seven  hundred  and 
seventy-one,  of  the  laws  of  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-three, 
so  far  as  relates  to  the  collection  of*  the  assessments  herein  pro- 
vided for,  and  the  sale  for  the  non-payment  of  the  same,  and  the 
lien  thereof,  shall  apply  to  and  become  part  of  this  Act,  except  that 
no  fees  for  collecting  shall  be  charged  against  any  property 
belonging  to  the  city  of  Brooklyn  or  to  the  county  of  Kings. 

§  2.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

CHAPTER  583. 

An  Act  to  lay  out  and  improve  a  public  highway  or  avenue  and 
concourse,  in  continuation  of  a  public  highway  or  avenue  here- 
tofore laid  out  from  Prospect  Park  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn 
toward  Coney  Island  in  the  county  of  Kings. 

Passed  May  25, 1874  ;  three-fifths  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in  Senate 
and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  foliovis: 

Section  1.  The  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners  are  hereby 
authorized  and  directed  to  lay  out  and  improve  a  public  highway 
or  avenue,  not  more  than  two  hundred  and  ten  feet  wide,  ex- 
clusive of  the  court-yards  hereinafter  provided  for,  commencing 
on  the  northerly  side  of  the  King's  highway,  so  called,  at  the  point 
of  termination  of  the  public  highway  or  avenue,  from  Prospect 
Park  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn  toward  Coney  Island  in  the  county 


139 


of  Kings,  as  the  same  is  laid  out  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of 
chapter  eight  hundred  and  sixty-one,  <>t'  the  laws  of  eighteen 
hundred  and  sixty-nine,  and  the  several  Acts  amending  the  same, 
running  thence  in  a  general  southerly  direction  through  the  town 
of  Gravesend,  and  on  and  across  Coney  Island  ro  the  Atlantic 
Ocean.  They  shall  also  lay  out  a  road  or  highway,  one  hundred 
feet  wide,  through  and  along  the  northerly  and  easterly  side 
of  the  lands  of  the  Prospect  Park  Fair  Grounds  Association,  and 
the  laws  adjoining  the  same  on  the  north  and  east,  commencing 
where  tRe  said  proposed  road  will  intersect  the  said  Ocean  Park- 
wayj  at  the  northerly  side  of  lands  of  said  association,  and  ter- 
minating at  the  said  continuation  of  the  said  Ocean  Parkway  on 
the  southerly  side  of  said  lands. 

They  shall  aiso  lay  out  and  open  and  improve  such  concourse 
or  shore  road  at  the  southerly  terminus  of  said  highway,  hereby 
extended,  as  in  their  judgment  shaTl  be  wi-e  and  propel',  not  ex- 
ceeding "three  thousand  feet  in  length  on  each  side  along  the 
beach,  and  five  hundred  feet  in  width,  exclusive  oi  such  accretions 
or  additions  which  may  be  caused  by  the  action  of  the  elements 
or  otherwise,  on  the  southerly  side  thereof,  which  accretions,  if 
any,  shall  attach  thereto  and  be  under  the  same  control  and  care 
of  the  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners,  as  the  said  concourse  or 
shore  road  shall  or  ma}7  be.  And  for  this  purpose  they  may  enter 
upon  any  lands  that  may  be  necessary,  and  cause  a  proper  survey 
and  map  of  the  said  avenue,  as  well  as  of  the  district  of  assessment 
therefor  to  be  made. 

§  2.  No  buildings  or  other  erections,  except  porches,  piazzas, 
fences,  fountains  and  statuary  shall  remain  or  be  at  any  time 
placed  upon  said  avenue  within  thirty  feet  from  the  outside  lines 
thereof,  which  space  on  each  side  of  the  said  avenue,  and  in 
addition  thereto,  shall  be  used  for  the  court-yards  only,  and  may 
be  planted  with  trees  and  shrubbery,  and  otherwise  ornamented, 
at  the  discretion  of  the  respective  owners  or  occupants  thereof; 
but  such  use  and  ornamentation  shall  be  under  the  direction  of 
the  said  Park  Commissioners. 

§  3.  The  said  Commissioners  are  hereby  also  directed  to  grade 
and  otherwise  improve  said  concourse,  lateral,  branch  or  shore 
road  at  the  ocean  beach,  the  said  one  bundled  feet  road,  and  also 
so  much  of  the  said  avenue  as  lies  south  of  the  lands  of  the  said 
association,  and  also  so  much  of  said  avenue  as  lies  between  the 
present  termination  of  Ocean  Parkway  and  the  point  where  said 
one  hundred  feet  road  commences,  and  in  order  to  determine  the 

IS 


* 


140 

amount  to  be  paid  to  the  owners  of  the  land.-  and  tenements 
required  to  he  taken  for  the  purposes  of  this  Act  and  for  the 
improvement  thereof,  the  said  Commissioners  shall  first  fix  a 
district  of  assessment  for  the  opening  and  improvement  of  the  said 
continued  parkway,  and  another  district  of  assessment  for  the 
opening  and  improvement  of  said  one  hundred  feet  road,  within 
which  several  districts  the  property  to  he  benefited  shall  be 
assessed  to  defray  the  expenses  of  such  several  takings,  as  well 
as  of  the  improvement  thereof.  Notice  of  the  time*  and  place 
of  fixing  the  said  districts,  and  of  hearing  the  parties  inter- 
ested therein,  shall  be  published  for  ten  days  successively  in  at 
least  two  daily  newspapers  printed  and  published  in  the  county 
of  Kings. 

§  4.  After  fixing  the  said  districts  of  assessment  the  said  Com- 
missioners shall  apply  to  the  Supreme  Court  at  a  Special  Term  to 
lie  held  in  the  Second  Judicial  District,  upon  a  similar  notice,  for 
the  appointment  of  three  Commissioners,  who  sha'l  he  freeholders 
and  residents  of  the  said  county,  to  estimate  the  value  of  the 
lands  and  premises  required  to  he  taken  for  the  purposes  of  this 
Act,  and  the  damages  to  be  sustained  by  any  person  interested 
therein,  as  well  by  the  taking  of  the  land  as  by  the  restriction  or 
easement  thereon,  specified  in  the  second  section  of  this  Act, 
or  for  the  relinquishment  of  any  easement  now  existing  thereon 
or  attaching  thereto,  together  with  the  expenses  of  said  opening 
and  of  the  improvement  thereof;  and  also,  to  apportion  and  assess 
the  same  both  for  the  taking  and  improving  in  such  manner  as 
they  shall  deem  just  and  equitable,  upon  the  property  to  be  bene- 
fited within  the  districts  of  assessment  so  to  he  fixed  by  the  said 
Park  Commissioners,  and  the  said  Court,  at  Special  Term,  shall 
thereupon  proceed  to  make  such  appointment,  in  case  of  the 
death  or  refusal  to  act,  or  other  disability  of  the  Commissioners 
so  to  be  appointed,  or  either  of  them,  at  any  time  before  the 
several  objects  of  their  appointment  shall  have  been  accom- 
plished, the  said  Court,  at  Special  Term,  may  fill  the  vacancy. 

§  5.  The  Commissioners  so  to  be  appointed  by  the  Court,  after 
having  been  duly  sworn  faithfully  to  perform  the  duties  hereby 
devolved  upon  them,  shall  proceed  to  make  the  estimates  and 
assessments  referred  to  in  the  last  preceding  sections  of  this  Act. 
And  in  laying  the  assessment  for  improvement,  the  expense  of 
improving  the  said  one  hundred  feet  road  shall  be  charged  upon 
the  lands  of  the  said  Prospect  Park  Pair  Grounds  Association. 
Each  of  the  said  reports  shall,  at  all  times,  before  confirmation,  be 


141 


subject  to  view  and  correction,  and  ten  days'  notice  of  the  time 
and  place  of  hearing  objections  thereto,  and  of  reviewing  and 
correct i tig  the  same,  shall  be  published  in  the  newspapers  above 
referred  to.  After  hearing  such  objections  and  making  the  cor- 
rections, if  any  be  required,  the  reports  shall  be  delivered  to  the 
snid  Park  Commissioners. 

§  (5.  Upon  receiving  the  said  reports,  or  either  of  them,  the 
said  Park  Commissioners  shall  give  ten  days'  notice  in  the  said 
newspapers,  that  application  will  be  made  to  the  said  Court,  at  a 
Special  Term,  at  a  time  and  place  to  be  therein  designated,  to  have 
the  same  continued.  Appeals  may  be  taken  from  said  reports,  or 
any  of  them,  by  giving  written  notice  to  the  attorney  of  the  said 
Commissioners,  at  least  six  days  before  the  time  fixed  for  the 
application  to  confirm  the  same,  with  a  specification  of  the  nature 
of  the  objections;  and  the  Court  shall  have  power  to  confirm, 
amend  or  refer  back  the  said  reports,  or  either  of  them,  as  it  may 
deem  proper,  and  to  make  any  further  order  in  the  premises, 
until  the  final  confirmation  thereof. 

§  7.  After  the  reports  of  estimate  and  assessment  for  taking 
and  opening  the  said  avenue  and  one  hundred  feet  road,  and  said 
concourse  or  lateral  branch  or  shore  road  at  the  ocean  beach, 
shall  have  been  confirmed,  the  title  to  the  concourse  or  lateral 
branch  or  shore  road,  shall  vest  in  the  county  of  Kings  in  fee- 
simple  absolute,' and  :  aid  reports  together  with  the  maps  herein- 
before referred  to,  shall  be  filed  in  the-  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the 
county  of  Kings,  and  the  said  Park  Commissioners  shall  be  there- 
upon authorized  to  improve  the  said  avenue  and  one  hundred  feet 
road  and  said  concourse,  lateral  branch  or  shore  road  at  the  ocean 
beach,  according  to  a  plan  lo  be  devised  or  adopted  by  them  ; 
and  for  that  purpose  they  may  cause  the  same  to  be  graded, 
paved,  curbed,  guttered  and  bridged,  and  shade  trees  planted 
thereon,  and  may  lay  out  and  construct  such  carriage-ways,  side- 
walks and  areas,  with  such  terraces,  drives  or  concourses  on  the 
ocean  beach  as  they  may  deem  expedient,  and  such  improvements 
may  be  made  in  sections,  and  from  time  to  time,  it  they  shall  so 
elect. 

§  8.  All  expenses  incident  to  such  improvements,  or  either  or  any 
of  them,  after  having  been  duly  certified  by  the  said  Park  Commis- 
sioners to  the  said  Commissioners  of  Estimate  and  Assessment,  shall 
be  by  them  apportioned  and  assessed  upon  the  property  in  their 
judgment  benefited  thereby,  within  the  several  districts  of  assess- 


142 


ment  so  to  be  fixed  by  the  said  Park  Commissioners.  The  expense 
of  constructing  the  drive  and  concourse  on  the  ocean  beach,  as 
well  as  ol' nidi  bridges  as  nia\  be  required  fur  such  parkway,  not 
exceeding  tire  sum  of 'fifteen  thousand  dollars,  shall  be  a  charge  on 
the  county  of  Kings,  and  of  the  expense  of  constructing  the  said 
parkway  south  of  a  point  which  is  distant  fifteen  hundred  feet 
southerly  from  the  Neck  road,  so  called,  not  exceeding  one-half 
shall  be  charged  and  assessed  against  the  property  in  the  judg- 
ment of  the  Commissioners  benefited  by  said  improvement,  and 
so  much  thereof  as  shall  he  charged  and  assessed  against  the 
county  of  Kings,  either  for  the  opening  or  improvement  thereof, 
the  Supervisors  of  the  said  county  are  hereby  directed  to  raise 
by  tax  upon  the  requisition  of  the  Park  Commissioners,  and  the 
County  Treasurer  to  pay  the  proceeds  thereof  to  the  persons  en-- 
titled  to  receive  the  same  npon  like  requisition.  And  the 
reports  of  the  Commissioners  of  Assessment  shall  be  subject  to 
objection  and  appeal  and  to  confirmation  in  the  same  manner  as 
their  said  former  assessment  reports;  but  the  expenses  of  no  por- 
tion of  said  parkway  shall  be  a  charge  upon  the  county  of  Kings. 

§  9.  All  assessments  made  and  confirmed  in  pursuance  of  this 
Act  shall  be  liens  upon  the  lands  and  premises  upon  which  they 
shall  have  been  laid,  and  such  lands  and  premises  shall  be  subject 
to  he  sold  for  the  assessments  referred  to  in  the  fifth  and  sixth-- 
sections  of  this  Act,  if  such  assessments  are  not  paid  within  ninety 
days  after  the  confirmation  thereof.  The  present  existing  pro- 
visions of  law  applicable  to  sales  for  taxes  and  assessments  in  the 
city  of  Brooklyn,  to  redemptions  and  leases  therefor,  and  to  the 
respective  rig. its  of  the  parties  interested  therein,  including  the 
rate  of  interest  to  be  paid  by  the  parties  in  default,  shall  apply  to 
all  assessments  to  be  laid  under  this  Act  whenever-  they  are  not 
inconsistent  therewith.  And  when  any  duties  are  by  said  laws 
imposed  upon  the  Common  Council  of  said  city,  they  shall  devolve 
upon  the  said  Park  Commissioners;  and  where  imposed  upon 
subordinate  officers  of  the  city,  they  shall  he  performed  by  per- 
sons to  be  specially  appointed  by  the  said  Park  Commissioners. 

§  10.  The  said  Park  Commissioners  may  appoint  one  or  more 
collectors  of  all  assessments  to  be  laid  under  this  Act,  who  shall 
severally  give  bonds  for  the  faithful  performance  of  their  duties, 
and  for  the  prompt  payment  of  all  the  moneys  to  he 'collected  by 
them.  The  collector  of  any  assessment  shall  be  entitled  to  re- 
ceive a  compensation  of  one  per  cent  on  all  moneys  paid  to  him, 
within  two  weeks  after  he  .shall   have  published  notice  in  said 


143 


newspapers  twice  a  week,  for  four  weeks,  of  the  time  and  place 
where  he  will  attend  to  receive  payment.  After  the  expiration 
of  six  weeks  from  the  first  publication  of  the  said  notice,  the  col- 
lector shall  he  entitled  to  three  per  cent  on  all  moneys  thereafter 
to  he  collected  by  him,  and  in  either  case  his  compensation  shall 
be  paid  by  the  party  assessed,  over  and  above  his  assessment  and 
as  part  thereof;  and  the  lien  of  the  assessment  shall  extend  to 
such  compensation,  except  that  no  fees  shall  be  allowed  for  the 
collection  of  the  amount  assessed  against  the  county  of  Kings. 
In  case  any  assessment  shall  remain  unpaid  after  the  expiration 
of  the  time  above  specified,  the  collector  shall  proceed  to  sell  at 
public  auction,  for  the  lowest  term  of  years  for  which  any  person 
will  take  the  same  and  pay  the  amount  so  remaining  unpaid,  with 
interest  from  the  time  of  the  confirmation  of  the  Assessment 
report,  together  with  two  per  cent  for  collector's  fees,  and  three 
dollars  on  each  parcel  in  addition  for  the  expanses  of  advertising 
and  sale,  and  said  collector  first  giving  thirty  days'  notice  of  the 
time  and  place  of  sale,  by  publishing  the  same  in  two  daily  news- 
papers printed  in  the  county  of  Kings  twice  a  week  for  three 
weeks.  Upon  a  sale  being  made,  the  said  collector  shall  give  cer- 
tificates of  sale  to  purchasers,  and  shall  also  execute  and  deliver 
conveyances  of  the  lands  so  purchased,  unless  the  same  shall 
^have  been  redeemed  by  an  owner,  lessee  or  mortgagee  thereof, 
within  two  years  from  the  time  of  sale,  by  paying  to  the  pur- 
chaser, or  to  the  said  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners,  for  his  use, 
the  amount  paid  by  him  with  interest  at  the  rate  of  twelve  per 
cent  per  annum.  The  said  certificates  of  sale  shall  be  recorded 
by  the  purchasers,  in  the  office  of  the  Register  of  Deeds  in  and 
for  the  county  of  Kings,  and  shall  constitute  liens  upon  the 
premises  therein  described,  after  the  same  shall  have  been  so  re- 
corded, and  shall  take  precedence  of  all  other  liens  except  for 
unpaid  taxes  or  assessments.  And  all  interest  to  be  collected  at 
the  said  sale,  shall  be  credited  and  paidjPTY?  rata  among  all  parties 
entitled  to  receive  awards  upon  the  said  opening.  Upon  the 
final  collection  of  any  assessment  to  be  made  under  this  Act,  it 
shall  he  paid  over  by  the  said  Park  Commissioners,  to  the  several 
persons  entitled  to  receive  the  same. 

§  11.  After  the  said  avenue  shall  have  been  opened,  the  said 
avenue,  and  the  concourse  lateral  branch  or  shore  road,  at  the 
ocean  beach,  shall  be  under  the  exclusive  charge  and  management 
of  the  said  Park  Commissioners,  and  they  shall  make  and  enforce 
rules  and  regulations  for  the  proper  use  thereof.    And  after  the 


144 


K.iid  avenue  and  shore  road  shall  have  heen  improved  as  herein- 
before directed,  its  subsequent  maintenance  shall  he  a  charge 
upon  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  and  such  amounts  as  the  said  Park 
Commissioners  shall,  from  time  to  time,  by  resolution,  determine 
to  he  neces-ary  for  the  purpose,  shall  he  annually  raised  by  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  county  of  Kings,  and  collected  in 
the  taxes  of  the  current  year,  and  paid  over  to  the  said  Park 
Commissioners. 

§  12.  The  said  Commissioners  of  Estimate  and  Assessment  shall 
be  severally  entitled  to  receive  three  dollars  a  day  for  each  and 
every  day  necessarily  employed  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties, 
ai.d  their  compensation,  with  room-hire,  stationery,  and  other 
necessary  expenses,  together  with  the  compensation  of  the  sur- 
veyor, counsel,  and  other  persons  to  be  necessarily  employed 
under  the  foregoing  provisions  of  this  Act,  (and  who  are  hereby 
directed  to  be  employed  by  the  said  Park  Commissioners),  shall 
be  included  in  the  general  expenses  to  be  incurred  herein. 

§  13.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

CHAPTER  588. 

An  Act  to  provide  for  the  completion  and  improvement  of^ 
Sackett,  Douglass  and  Degraw  streets,  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn, 
and  also  for  the  collection  and  payment  of  all  moneys  expended 
or  indebtedness  incurred  by  said  city  on  account  of  the  im- 
provement of  such  streets  by  the  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners. 

Passed  June  1,  1874;  three  fifths  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  /State  of  Neiv  York,  represented  in  Senate 
and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows: 

Section  1.  Sections  4,  7,  9  and  10  of  an  Act  of  the  Legis- 
lature entitled  "  An  Act  to  widen  portions  of  Sackett,  Douglass 
and  President  streets,  and  otherwise  to  alter  the  Commissioners' 
map  of  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  passed  May  sixth,  eighteen  hundred 
and  sixty-eight,  as  amended,  extended  or  enlarged  by  the  Acts 
amendatory  of  or  supplemental  to,  or  said  to  be  amendatory  of 
or  supplemental  to  such  Act  are  hereby  (except  as  hereinafter 
amended)  expressly  re-enacted,  and  the  powers  granted,  or  pur- 
ported, or  stated  to  be  granted  by  such  sections  and  Acts  are  here- 
by expressly  conferred  upon  the  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners 
and  other  officers  and  agents  as  therein  set  forth. 


145 


§  2.  All  sums  of  moneys  heretofore  at  any  time  paid  or  ad- 
vanced to  said  Tark  Commissioners  by  said  city,  for  or  on  account 
of  the  improvement  mentioned  in  said  sections  of  tlje  Act  passed 
May  sixth,  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-eight,  and  the  said 
amendatory  and  supplemental  Acts,  together  with  all  the  sums 
hereafter  to  he  advanced  under  the  authority  of  this  Act,  with  all 
interest  paid  by  said  city  at  the  time  of  such  assessment  on  ac- 
count of  bonds  issued  to  obtain  the  money  so  advanced,  shall  be 
assessed,  levied  and  collected  in  the  manner  provided  in  and  by 
this  Act,  it  being  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  ibis  Act  to 
make  the  sums  heretofore  expended  tor  such  improvement  a 
charge  on  the  same  district,  and  assessable  and  collectable  in  the 
same  manner  as  though  such  sums  had  been  expended  after  the 
passage  of  this  Act. 

§  3.  Section  four  of  the  Act  passed  May  twenty-second, 
eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-three,  supplemental  to  the  afore- 
said Act,  passed  May  sixth,  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-eight,  is 
hereby  amended  by  substituting  the  words  "the  Board  of  Super- 
visors of  King's  county"  for  the  words  "the  Joint  Board  of 
Supervisors  and  Common  Council  of  said  city"  in  such  section, 
it  being  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  this  section  to  cause  the 
assessment  therein  referred  to  be  levied  by  the  said  Board  of 
..Supervisors  instead  of  by  the  Joint  Board  therein  referred  to, 
and  the  said  section  is  hereby  further  so  amended  that  the  tax  or 
charge  therein  referred  to  shall  not  be  collected  by  said  Joint 
Board,  but  shall  he  collected  by  the  officers  of  said  city  author- 
ized to  collect  taxes  therein. 

§  4.    Section  five  of  the  Act  last  above  referred  to  is  so 

amended  that  payments  therein  allowed  to  l;e  made  to  the 

Comptroller  shall  be  made  to  the  Collector  of  Taxes  and 
Assessments  of  said  city. 

§  5.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


14(1 


CHAPTER  2(35. 

An  Act  to  amend  an  Act  entitled  "An  Act  to  widen  and  im- 
prove a  portion  of  Washington  avenue,  in  the  city  of  Brook- 
lyn, and  extend  the  same  into  the  town  of  Flatbush.  Passed 
April  twenty-third,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy." 

Passed  May  12,  L875 ;  three-fifths  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  Nero  York,  represented  in  Senate 
and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows  : 

SECTION  L.  Chapter  three  hundred  and  seventy-six  of  the 
Laws  of  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy,  entitled  "  An  Act  to  widen 
and  improve  a  portion  of  Washington  avenue,  in  the  city  of 
Brooklyn,  and  extend  the  same  into  the  town  of  Plathush/'  passed 
April  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy,  is  hereby  amended  hy 
adding       following  section  at  the  end  thereof: 

§  10,  For  the  purpose  of  paying  the  contractors  and  other 
persons  employed  in  the  improvement  of  so  much  of  said  avenue 
as  lies  within  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  the  usual  assessment  bonds  of 
the  city  of  Brooklyn  shall  be  issued  arid  sold  by  the  proper 
officers  of  said  city  to  an  amount  necessary  to  pay  the  same, 
provided  nothing  herein  contained  shall  authorize  the  issue  of 
assessment  lionds  beyond  the  sum  already  limited  by  law.  And 
the  said  Park  Commissioners  are  hereby  authorized  to  issue  to 
the  contractors  and  other  persons  employed  in  making  said 
improvement  within  the  town  of  Flatbush  and  outside  of  the  city 
of  Brooklyn,  certificates  of  indebtedness  not  exceeding  the 
amount  due  said  contractors  and  other  persons  employed  in  said 
work,  bearing  interest  to  a  period  three  months  after  the  date  of 
the  confirmation  of  the  assessment  report,  to  be  paid  out  of  the 
moneys  collected  for  assessments  on  property  within  said  town, 
which  shall  be  levied  and  collected  within  a  district  of  assessment 
to  be  fixed  by  said  Park  Commissioners  on  property  within  the 
town  of  Flatbush.  All  interest  heretofore  collected  try  reason  of 
default  in  payment  of  the  assessment  for  opening  of  that  part  of 
said  avenue  hung  within  the  town  of  Flatbush  shall  be  credited 
to  the  interest  account  of  said  improvement,  and  all  interest  to  be 
collected  by  reason  of  default  in  payment  of  any  assessments 
under  the  provisions  of  this  Act,  within  said  town,  shall  be  paid 
to  the  contractor  or  other  parties  to  whom  payments  are  due  by 
reason  of  such  default,  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  their 
respective  claims. 

§  2.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


147 


CHAPTER  489. 

An  Act  to  amend  chapter  five  hundred  and  eighty-three  of  the 
Laws  of  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-four,  entitled  "An  Act 
to  lay  ont  and  improve  a  public  highway  or  avenue  heretofore 
laid  out  from  Prospect  Park,  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  toward 
Coney  Island,  in  the  county  of  Kings  " 

Passed  June  5,  1875  ;  three-fifths  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in  Senate 
and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows  : 

Section  1.  Section  eight  of  chapter  five  hundred  and  eighty- 
three  of  the  Laws  of  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-four,,  entitled 
"An  Act  to  lay  out  and  improve  a  public  highway  or  avenue 
and  concourse  in  continuation  of  a  public  highway  or  avenue 
heretofore  laid  out  from  Prospect  Park,  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn, 
toward  Coney  Island,  in  the  county  Kings,"  is  hereby  amended  so 
as  to  read  as  follows: 

§  8.  All  expenses  incident  to  said  improvements,  or  either  or  any 
of  them,  after  having  been  duly  certified  by  the  said  Park  Com- 
missioners to  the  said  Commissioners  of  Estimate  and  Assessment, 
shall  be  b}'  them  apportioned  and  assessed  upon  the  property  in 
their  judgment  benefited  thereby,  within  the  several  districts  of 
assessment  so  to  be  fixed  by  the  said  Park  Commissioners.  The 
expense  of  constructing  the  drive  and  concourse  on  the  ocean 
beach,  as  well  as  of  such  bridges  as  may  be  required  for  such 
Parkway,  shall  be  a  charge  on  the  county  of  Kings,  and  of  the 
expense  of  constructing  the  said  Parkway  south  of  a  point  which 
is  distant  fifteen  hundred  feet  southerly  from  the  Neck  road,  so 
called,  not  exceeding  one-half  shall  be  charged  and  assessed 
against  the  property  in  the  judgment  of  the  Commissioners  bene- 
fited by  said  improvement,  and  so  much  thereof  as  shall  be 
charged  and  assessed  against  the  county  of  Kings,  either  for  the 
opening  or  improvement  thereof,  shall  be  paid  thereof  by  the 
County  Treasurer  to  the  persons  entitled  to  receive  the  same, 
upon  the  certificate  of  the  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners.  And 
the  reports  of  the  Commissioners  of  Assessment  shall  be  subject 
to  objection  and  appeal  and  to  confirmation,  in  the  same  manner 
as  their  said  former  assessment  reports. 

§  2.  Said  Act  is  amended  by  adding  at  the  end  thereof  the 
following  sections : 

19 


148 


§  13.  The  said  Park  Commissioners  may  contract  in  writing 
for  the  making  of  all  or  any  of  the  said  improvements,  after  in- 
viting proposals  for  doing  the  work  and  furnishing  the  materials, 
by  publication  for  one  week  in  said  two  daily  newspapers,  printed 
and  published  in  the  county  of  Kings,  and  tiling  a  copy  of  each  of 
said  contracts  in  the  office  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  county  of 
Kings  within  ten  days  after  the  making  of  the  same.  And 
they  may  from  time  to  time  as  the  work  progresses,  but  not 
oftener  than  once  a  month,  issue  to  the  contractors  certificates  of 
the  amount  cf  work  and  materials  done  and  furnished  under  such 
contracts.  The  said  Treasurer  is  hereby  authorized  and  directed 
to  pay  seventy-five  per  cent  of  such  amounts  to  said  contractors 
or  their  assigns,  and  upon  the  final  completion  of  their  said  con- 
tracts, and  upon  filing  a  certificate  thereof  in  the  office  of  the 
said  Treasurer,  he  shall  pay  to  the  said  contractors  or  their 
assigns  the  balance  of  the  several  amounts  due  under  their  con- 
tracts. The  said  Treasurer  shall  also  pay  to  the  Surveyor,  Com- 
misioners,  Counsel  and  other  persons  to  be  employed  upon  the 
said  work,  and  upon  the  laying  of  said  improvement,  such  amounts 
for  services  and  necessary  disbursements  as  shall  be  specified  in 
the  assessment  reports  after  they  shall  have  been  duly  confirmed 
by  the  Court.  For  the  purpose  of  furnishing  the  money  required 
to  make  all  such  payments,  and  for  the  payment  of  so  much 
thereof  as  may  be  charged  or  assessed  to  the  county,  including 
the  amount  expended  for  the  improvement  of  said  concourse,  the 
county  of  Kings  is  authorized,  and  the  proper  officers  thereof  are 
hereby  directed,  to  issue  certificates  of  indebtedness  to  the  neces- 
sary amount,  not  exceeding  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  bear- 
ing interest  at  seven  per  cent  per  annum,  payable  on  or  before 
the  expiration  of  ten  years  from  the  date  thereof,  interest  thereon 
to  be  payable  semi  annually,  and  to  sell  the  same  for  not  less  than 
the  par  value  thereof,  and  pay  contractors  and  other  persons 
entitled  to  receive  the  same  on  the  certificates  of  the  Brooklyn 
Park  Commissioners. 

§  14.  The  board  of  Supervisors  of  the  county  of  Kings  shall 
annually  make  provision  by  tax  for  the  payment  of  interest  ac- 
crued, and  to  accrue,  on  such  certificates  ;  and  so  much  thereof  as 
is  chargeable  against  the  several  parcels  of  property  assessed 
shall  be  levied  on  the  same  as  part  of  the  general  tax  for  the 
improvement ;  and  in  the  year  preceding  the  maturity  of  said 
certificates,  the  amount  of  any  assessment  remaining  unpaid,  with 
interest,  if  any,  accrued  thereon,  shall  form  a  part  of  and  be  levied 


149 

and  assessed  upon  the  property  chargeable  with  said  assessment, 
as  part  of  the  general  tax  upon  said  lands  for  the  general  ex- 
penses of  the  said  county  ;  and  in  ease  there  shall  be  separate 
interests  divided,  or  undivided,  arising  from  a  transfer  of  the  prop- 
erty assessed  or  any  part  thereof,  at  or  at  any  time  previous  to  the 
making  of  said  levy  or  sale  therefor,  and  the  same  shall  be  made 
to  appear  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  said  Park  Commissioners, 
they  may  apportion  the  amount  assessed  thereon  between  the 
owners  of  the  respective  parts  thereof,  and  all  provisions  of  law- 
applicable  to  the  redemption  of  lands  from  sale  for  taxes  shall 
apply  to  the  several  interests  and  amounts  so  apportioned. 

§  3.  The  second  sub-division  of  section  one  of  said  Act  is 
amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows : 

They  shall  also  lay  out  and  open  and  improve  such  concourse 
or  shore  road  at  the  southerly  terminus  of  said  highway  hereby 
extended  as  in  their  judgment  shall  be  wise  and  proper,  not  ex- 
ceeding three  thousand  feet  in  length  on  each  side  along  the 
beach,  and  not  exceeding  one  thousand  feet  in  width,  exclusive  of 
such  accretions  or  additions  which  may  .be  caused  by  the  action 
of  the  elements,  or  otherwise,  on  the  southerly  side  thereof, 
which  accretions,  if  any,  shall  attach  thereto  and  be  under  the 
same  control  and  care  of  the  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners  as 
the  said  concourse  or  shore  road  shall  or  may  be  ;  and  for  this 
purpose  they  may  enter  upon  any  lands  that  may  be  necessary, 
and  cause  a  proper  survey  and  map  of  the  said  avenue,  as  well 
as  of  the  district  of  assessment  therefor  to  be  made. 

§  4.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

CHAPTER  546. 

An  Act  to  amend  an  act  entitled  "  An  Act  to  widen  and  improve 
Ninth  avenue  and  Fifteenth  street  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn." 

Passed  June  8,  1875  ;  three-fifths  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in  Senate 
and  Assembly,  do  enact  an  follows: 

Section  1.  Section  six  of  chapter  seven  hundred  of  the  Laws 
of  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-nine,  entitled  "An  Act  to  widen 
and  improve  Ninth  avenue  and  Fifteenth  street,"  is  hereby 
amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows : 


150 

§  6.  The  said  widened  street  and  avenue  shall  be  laid  out  ac- 
cording to  a  plan  to  he  devised  or  adapted  by  the  said  Park  Com- 
missioners;  the  sidewalks  thereof,  which  are  contiguous  to  the 
said  Park,  shall  hi;  thirty  feet  wide,  and  the  opposite  sidewalk 
shall  he  twenty  feet  wide,  and  seven  feet  in  width  of  said  oppo- 
site sidewalk  adjoining  the  lots  facing  on  said  street  and  avenue 
may  be  used  for  courtyards  or  areas  within  which  to  erect 
porches  or  stoops  to  houses,  provided  the  occupants  will  inclose 
such  courtyards  or  areas  with  good  and  sufficient  iron  or  picket 
fences,  not  exceeding  five  feet  high.  The  said  street  and  avenue 
shall  also  be  paved,  curbed  and  guttered  in  such  manner  as  the 
the  said  Park  Commissioners  shall  direct,  and  the  said  Commis- 
sioners may  plant  the  same  with  suitable  shade  trees  on  both 
sides  thereof,  and  construct  such  carriageways  and  walks,  and 
make  use  of  such  material  of  construction  or  pavements  as  they 
shall  deem  best;  and  for  the  purpose  of  paying  the  contractors 
and  othe  r  persons  employed  in  the  improvement  of  said  avenue 
and  street,  including  the  amount  already  expended  and  advanced 
on  said  work  by  the  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners,  the  usual 
assessment  bonds  of  the  city  of  Brooklyn  ^hall  be  issued  and  sold 
by  the  proper  officers  of  the  city  to  an  amount  necessary  to  pay 
the  same,  provided  that  no  assessment  bonds  be  issued  to  pay  for 
any  work  to  be  done  on  said  street  or  avenue  unless  the  consent 
of  the  Common  Council  be  first  obtained  thereto;  and  also  pro- 
vided that  nothing  herein  contained  shall  authorize  the  issue  of 
assessment  bonds  beyond  the  sum  now  limited  by  law,  and  out  of 
the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  said  bonds  pay,  on  the  certificate 
of  the  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners,  the  several  parties  or 
persons  entitled  to  receive  the  payments  provided  for  in  this  Act. 

§  2.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

CHAPTER  307. 

An  Act  to  amend  an  Act  passed  May  eleventh,  eighteen  hundred 
and  sixty-nine,  entitled  "An  Act  to  layout  and  improve  a 
public  highway  or  avenue  from  Prospect  Park,  in  the  city  of 
Brooklyn,  toward  Coney  Island,  in  the  county  of  Kings." 

Passed  May  16,  lS7ft;  three-fifths  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  Nevj  York,  represented  in  Senate 
and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows  : 

Section  I.  The  ninth  section  of  the  Act  entitled  "An  Act  to 
lay  out  and  improve  a  public  highway  or  avenue,  from  Prospect 


151 


Park,  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  toward  Coney  Island,  in  the 
county  of  Kings,"  passed  May  eleventh,  eighteen  hundred  and 
sixty-nine,  is  hereby  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows  : 

§  9.  All  assessments  made  and  confirmed,  in  pursuance  of  this 
Act,  shall  be  liens  upon  the  land  and  premises  upon  which  they 
shall  have  been  laid,  and  such  lands  and  premises  shall  be  subject 
to  be  sold  for  the  assessments  referred  to  in  the  fifth  and  sixth  sec- 
tions of  tkis  Act,  if  such  assessments  are  not  paid  within  ninety 
days  after  the  confirmation  thereof.  All  laws  applicable  to  or 
governing  the  returns  of  arrears  of  taxes  or  assessments  on  lands 
of  non-residenrs,  made  or  to  be  made  to  the  State  Comptroller 
by  comity  treasurers  and  the  proceedings  thereupon,  shall  apply 
to  all  assessments  to  be  laid  under  this  Act,  whenever  they  are 
not  inconsistent  therewith,  and  when  any  duties  are,  by  said  laws, 
imposed  upon  the  Common  Council  of  said  city,  they  shall 
devolve  upon  the  said  Park  Commissioners,  and  when  imposed 
upon  subordinate  officers  of  the  city,  they  shall  be  performed  by 
persons  to  be  specialty  appointed  by  the  said  Park  Commis- 
sioners. 

§  2.  Nothing  contained  in  this  Act  shall  affect  any  sales  here- 
tofore made  for  any  assessment  levied  under  said  Act  of  May 
eleventh,  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty  nine. 

§  3.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

CHAPTER  336. 

An  Act  to  provide  for  the  payment  of  an  award  due  from  the 
city  of  Brooklyn  to  the  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners  for 
lands  taken  from  Prospect  Park  for  reservoir  purposes. 

Passed  May  15,  1876  ;  three-fifths  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  Neio  York,  represented  in  Senate 
and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows : 

Section  1.  The  Mayor,  Comptroller  and  City  Clerk  of  the 
city  of  Brooklyn  are  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to  make, 
issue  and  sell  the  bonds  of  said  city,  to  an  amount  necessary,  and 
pay  from  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  such  bonds  the  amount  of 
the  award  made  for  lands  taken  about  the  Prospect  Hill  Reser- 
voir by  the  referee's  report  on  tile  in  the  office  of  the  Comp- 
troller of  said  city,  date  June  twentieth,  eighteen  hundred  and 
seventy-four,  and  amounting  to  two  hundred  and  fifteen  thousand 
three  hundred  and  sixty-five  dollars,  and  interest  on  the  same 
from  the  date  of  said  report. 


152 


§  2.  The  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners  are  hereby  authorized 
and  directed  to  expend  said  moneys  so  received  in  liquidating  any 
indebtedness  due,  or  for  moneys  borrowed,  to  improve  the  Park 
lands  of  said  city  authorized  to  be  sold. 

?  3.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

CHAPTER  352. 

An  Act  to  amend  chapter  five  hundred  and  eighty-three  of  the 
Law  s  of  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy  four,  entitled,  "An  Act 
to  lay  out  and  improve  a  public  highway  or  avenue,  heretofore 
laid  out  from  Prospect  Park,  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  toward 
Coney  Island,  in  the  county  of  Kings." 

Passed  May  16,  187(5;  three-fifths  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in  Senate 
and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows  : 

Section  1.  Section  seven  of  chapter  five  hundred  and  eighty- 
three  of  the  Laws  of  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-four,  entitled, 
"An  Act  to  lay  out  and  improve  a  public  highway  or  avenue 
heretofore  laid  out  from  Prospect  Park,  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn, 
toward  Coney  Island,  in  the  county  of  Kings,"  is  hereby  amended 
so  as  to  read  as  follows : 

§  7.  After  the  reports  of  estimate  and  assessment  for  taking 
and  opening  the  said  avenue,  and  said  concourse  or  lateral  branch 
or  shore  road  at  the  ocean  beach,  shall  have  been  confirmed,  the 
title  to  the  concourse  or  lateral  branch  or  shore  road  shall  vest  in 
county  of  Kings  in  fee  simple,  absolute,  and  said  reports,  together 
with  the  maps  hereinbefore  referred  to,  shall  be  filed  in  the  office 
of  the  Clerk  of  the  comity  of  Kings,  and  the  said  Brooklyn  Park 
Commissioners  shall  be  thereupon  authorized  to  improve  the 
said  avenue  and  said  concourse,  lateral  branch  or  shore  road 
at  the  ocean  beach,  according  to  plans  devised  and  adopted  by 
them  ;  and  for  that  purpose  they  may  cause  the  same  to  be  graded, 
paved,  curbed,  guttered  and  bridged,  and  shade  trees  planted 
thereon,  and  may  lay  out  and  construct  such  carriageways,  side- 
walks and  areas  with  such  terraces,  drives  or  concourses  on  the 
ocean  beach  as  they  may  deem  expedient,  and  such  improvements 
may  be  made  in  sections,  and  from  time  to  time  if  they  shall  so 
elect.  They  shall  have  full  and  exclusive  power  to  govern  and 
manage  the  Ocean  Parkway  from  the  circle  at  the  southwesterly 
angle  of  Prospect  Park  to  the  ocean,  and  direct  the  public  use 


153 


thereof,  as  also  the  circle*  and  concourse  at  cither  terminus,  and 
of  such  parts  of  the  several  roads,  streets  or  avenues  as  run 
through  or  intersect  the  same,  and  to  pass  and  enforce  laws  and 
ordinances  for  the  proper  use,  regulation  and  government  thereof, 
and  for  all  the  purposes  of  such  government,  management  and 
direction  of  public  use,  such  parts  of  said  roads  or  avenues  as  pass 
through  or  intersect  said  circles,  shall  he  deemed  to  be  a  part  of 
Prospect  Park,  and  it  shall  he  under  like  control  and  manage- 
ment as  said  parkway. 

§  2.  Said  Act  is  hereby  amended  by  adding  at  the  end  there- 
of, the  following  section  : 

<j  15.  The  said  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners  are  hereby  au- 
thorized to  expend  a  sum  not  exceeding  ten  thousand  dollars 
without  contract,  in  the  payment  of  laborers'  wages,  and  in  the 
purchase  of  such  lands  and  materials  as  may  be  necessary  for  the 
construction  of  said  avenue  or  concourse,  to  be  paid  out  of  any 
moneys  they  are  authorized  to  expend  tor  said  improvements  and 
upon  their  certificate,  but  nothing  herein  contained  shall  be  con- 
strued to  authorize  any  expenditure  in  excess  of  the  amount  now 
fixed  by  law. 

§  3.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

CHAPTER  458. 

An  Act  to  enable  the  city  of  Brooklyn  to  raise  further  means 
for  the  improvement  and  sale  of  certain  portions'  of  Prospect 
Park,  in  said  city. 

Passed  June  16,  1877  ;  three-fifths  being  present. 

The  people  of  the  State  of  New'  York,  represented  in  Senate 
and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows  : 

Section  1.  The  Common  Council  of  the  city  of  Brooklyn  are 
hereby  authorized  to  raise  a  further  sum,  not  exceeding  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars,  for  grading,  draining,  regulating  and 
otherwise  improving  the  lands  of  Prospect  Park,  pursuant  to 
chapter  three  hundred  and  seventy-three  of  the  Laws  of  eighteen 
hundred  and  seventy,  entitled  "An  Act  to  authorize  the  improve- 
ment and  sale  of  certain  portions  of  Prospect  Park,  in  the  city  of 
Brooklyn,  and  the  Acts  amendatory  thereof,"  and  to  make  pro- 
vision for  the  expenditure  of  the  amonnt  raised  ;  and  for  the  pur- 


ir>4 


puses  of  this  Act  the  bonds  of  the  city,  known  as  Park  Bonds, 
and  payable  ont  of  the  sale  of  park  lands  authorized  to  he  t*old 
may  be  issued  in  such  fonh  and  payable  at  such  times  and  in 
such  manner  as  the  said  Common  Council  may  direct. 

CHAPTER  362. 

An  Act  to  transfer  the  care  and  control  of  Bedford  avenue,  in 
the  city  of  Brooklyn,  to  the  Park  Commissioners  of  said  city. 

Passed  May  '24,  1878  ;  three  fifths  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in  Senate 
and  Asxemhl ;/,,<lo  enact  as  follows: 

Section  1.  1'' rum  and  after  the  first  day  of  January,  eighteen 
hundred  and  seventy-nine,  the  care  an  i  management  of  Bedford 
avenue,  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  throughout  its  entire  length, 
including  the  repairs  of  the  existing  pavement  thereon  and 
cleaning;  thereof,  are  hereby  vested  in  the  Park  Commissioners  of 
said  city  and  said  Commissioners  are  Authorized  and  directed 
from  and  after  said  date  to  keep  the  same  clean  and  in  good 
repair,  and  to  make  such  needful  rules  and  regulations  in  respect 
to  said  avenue,  the  preservation  of  its  walks  and  roadway,  and 
the  puclic  use  thereof,  as  they  may  deem  proper  to  maintain  the 
same  as  a  public  drive  or  parkway,  and  the  powers  heretofore 
vested  in  or  exercised  by  other  city  officers  or  boards  in  said  city, 
in  respect  to  said  avenue,  are  hereby  transferred  to  said  Park 
Commissioners,  provided  that  no  expense  herein  authorized  shall 
he  met  by  the  issue  of  Park  bonds. 

§  2.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


Communication  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Kings 
County,  relative  to  the  sale  of  a  portion  of  the  Concourse 
at  Coney  Island. 

Office  of  Pauk  Commissioners,  } 
Brooklyn,  February  25,  1880. ) 

To  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  Kings  County  : 

Gentlemen  : 

The  Board  of  Brooklyn  Park  Commissioners  ben-  leave  to  ask 
your  consideration  to  the  following  suggestions  in  reference  to  a 
question  upon  which  they  were  invited  some  time  since  tc  give 
their  views  by  a  Committee  of  your  Board,  as  to  disposing  by 
sale,  of  the  portion  of  the  property  known  as  the  Concourse  at 
Coney  Island,  which  it  is  believed  may  be  now  parted  with  with- 
out disadvantage  to  the  public  interest. 

The  tract  to  which  this  proposition  is  intended  to  apply 
includes  only  that  part  of  the  seventy  acres  originally  acquired, 
which  lies  to  the  rear  or  north  of  the  northerly  boundary  of  the 
present  roadway  and  sidewalk,  and  contemplates  the  reservation 
for  public  purposes  of  all  south  of  this  same  line,  and  includes 
the  drives,  walks  and  all  the  intervening  beach  to  the  lowest 
water  line. 

The  development  of  the  Island  to  this  date,  and  the  clearly 
defined  tendencies  of  the  improvements  in  the  future  would  seem  » 
to  indicate  that  the  proposed  curtailment  of  the  present  area 
would  in  no  material  degree  contract  or  otherwise  encroach  upon 
the  privileges  and  benefits  which  were  originally  contemplated  by 
the  commission,  to  be  derived  from  its  use  by  the  public. 

Some  further  reasons  in  support  of  this  proposition  may  be 
found  in  the  following:  In  view  of  the  continued  reluctance 
manifested  by  the  authorities  to  expend  mone}7  on  other  than 
what  they  deem  to  be  strictly  utilitarian  or  unavoidable  work,  it 
is  of  some  importance  to  note  that  the  sale  of  this  portion  of  the 
county  property  would  do  away  with  the  ultimate  expenditure  of 

18* 


156 


a  considerable  amount  of  money  required  for  its  improvement, 
any  plan  of  which  would  involve  a  large  amount  of  filling  to 
level  up  the  area  to  such  an  elevation  as  would  render  its  use 
practicable  in  connection  with  the  present  drive,  the  Parkway, 
and  approaches  to  the  beach. 

A  considerable  outlay  would  also  be  needed  to  develope  the 
necessary  features  of  the  superstructure,  such  as  soiling,  walks, 
roads,  trees,  shrubs,  turf,  &c.  A  further  expense  would  be  en- 
tailed in  the  like  necessary  subsequent  provision  of  a  Maintenance 
fund,  which,  as  viewed  by  a  portion  of  the  public  representatives, 
would  be  probably  characterized  as  a  public  burden. 

The  Concourse  occupies  a  conspicuous  position,  and  is,  so  to 
speak,  almost  the  centre  of  gravity  of  the  Island,  separating  on 
either  hand  the  most  extensively  improved  portions.  In  its  ex- 
isting barren  and  unsightly  condition,  it  presents  an  incongruous 
and  undesirable  intervening  space,  the  prevailing  feature  of  which 
it  should  be  your  duty  or  ours  to  change  and  improve  if  it  is 
deemed  desirable  to  retain  it.  If  this  property  can  be  sold  under 
appropriate  conditions  and  restrictions,  such  as  may  be  without 
difficulty  arranged  for,  the  remaining  property  to  be  reserved  for 
the  public  use,  can,  it  is  believed,  be  environed  by  a  class  of  im- 
provements, such  as  hotels  and  other  structures,  which,  in  the 
matter  of  design  and  in  the  facilities  afforded,  will  greatly  enhance 
its  value,  and  by  the  accruing  advantages  add  to  the  convenience 
and  interest  of  the  community  at  large,  who  will  continue  to  seek 
recreation  where  it  can  be  afforded  at  comparatively  small 
expense  and  obtained  with  such  little  sacrifice  of  time. 

Not  the  least  important  of  the  reasons  which  are  here  advanced 
is  that  of  the  fund  to  be  derived  from  this  sale,  which  fund,  it 
may  be  confidently  expected,  will  prove  in  amount  a  very  satis- 
factory one.  By  far  the  larger  part  of  this  money  may  be  by  the 
*  County  Treasurer  invested  in  Kings  Comity  Bonds,  the  income 
of  which  should  be  devoted  to  the  care  of  the  improved  portions 
of  the  property,  and  the  balance  of  the  fund  might  with  propriety 
be  expended  in  improvements  which  would  be  found  desirable, 
and  in  providing  and  extending  facilities  in  which  the  owners  and 
lessees  of  the  Island  and  the  public  generally  would  share  in 
common,  and  with  such  a  fund  it  will  be  possible  for  the  Park 
Commission  to  inaugurate  a  class  of  improvements,  which, 
with  the  education  of  experience,  the  growth  of  the  public  taste, 
as  well  as  a  larger  view  of  owners  and  lessees  that  it  is  hoped 
will  prevail,  will  be  demanded  in  the  near  future,  and  will  merit 
and  receive  due  recognition. 


4 


157 


Among  such  improvements  as  are  here  referred  to  as  possible, 
may  be  enumerate  !  the  extension  in  a  substantial  and  attractive 
form  of  the  existing  carriageway  and  promenade,  together  with 
such  other  equally  acceptable  features  as  would  be  entitled  to 
consideration;  the  introduction  and  care  of  such  trees  and  shrubs 
as  might  be  found  upon  careful  inquiry  and  experiment  to 
promise  permanent  satisfactory  growth  and  development  on  the 
Island. 

The  enlargement  of  the  facilities  for  providing  pure  water 
would  be  found  to  be  necessary,  also  a  system  of  sewerage  'could 
be  devised  and  carried  out  in  part  and  to  such  an  extent  at  least 
as  would  make  certain  its  practicability  and  serve  as  a  nucleus  for 
its  extension  to  those  parts  of  the  Island  where  relief  in  this 
direction  will  soon  be  a  necessity. 

The  Park  Commissioners  fully  appreciate  and  have  carefully 
weighed  the  advantages  to  be  derived  by  the  public  from  the  use 
of  property  so  eligibly  located  as  is  the  Concourse,  and  having 
secured  it,  and  thus  completed  a  scheme  devised  by  them  more 
than  ten  years  ago,  they  would  hesitate  to  make  or  consider  any 
proposition  that  would  seem  to  be  inconsistent  with  the  past,  yet 
they  have  come  to  believe  that  the  advantages  to  result  from  this 
sale  under  such  conditions  as  they  would  reserve  the  right  in  a 
large  degree  to  define,  will  ultimately  inure  to  the  substantial 
advantage  of  our  people. 

In  conclusion,  we  beg  you  to  consider  the  substance  of  this 
communication,  with  the  view  to  enlist  your  co-operation  in 
securing  the  legislation  necessary  to  carry  out  the  purposes  and 
ends  herein  outlined. 

By  order  of  the  Park  Commission, 

J.  S.  T.  STRANAHAN, 

President. 


